Julius Randle is back in New York, just not in the uniform Knicks fans got used to seeing.
Now with the Brooklyn Nets, Randle still carries a real connection to the city after years as one of the Knicks’ most important players. From 2019 to 2014, he was a steady force for New York, helping keep the team afloat during stretches when the results weren’t always pretty. Over that span, he earned three All-Star selections and two All-NBA nods, becoming one of the defining players of that era for the franchise.
His Knicks run also played a direct role in what came next. Randle was the trade piece that brought in Karl-Anthony Towns, and Towns became one of the main reasons behind the 2026 championship.
Randle’s appreciation for the Knicks has only grown in light of their success. Even after moving on, he’s been receiving plenty of love from New York fans, including some who had a complicated relationship with him while he was on the team. But whatever the debate around his game, there’s no denying the impact he had on the organization.
For some, Randle was the player who helped lay the groundwork for the Knicks that exist now. Jalen Brunson changed the picture, but Randle was still a major part of the build.
"Ah, no, I appreciate that. What the organization accomplished is great.
Been a long time coming. Took a lot of hard years, a lot of different players, to build it up to what it was.
It’s amazing. Definitely look forward to creating that in Brooklyn," Randle said in response to him being appreciated for his impact for the Knicks.
Now the challenge shifts to Brooklyn. Randle’s next job is to help the Nets win, and that won’t be easy. But he already showed he could be a stabilizing force for a New York team during a rocky stretch, and now he gets a chance to try it again on the other side of town.
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