New York Knicks forward Julius Randle is approaching big season to prove his worth on a potential championship contending team.
Randle was in the midst of some of his best basketball last season when he dislocated his shoulder, causing him to miss the rest of the season. In his absence, the Knicks raced to 50 games and made the second round of the playoffs, coming just one win shy of an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Now, Randle is set to return while facing questions about his fit on a revamped Knicks squad.
Knicks legend Larry Johnson is not worried about how Randle will adjust. While appearing on "Knicks Fan TV," Johnson, the author of the famed four-point play, set a high bar and bold prediction for how good Randle can be upon returning this season.
"The main thing is, just make sure you're healthy, make sure your health is there," Johnson said. "Because he was having a great year. He was having a great year. If he's healthy and he comes back, Jalen [Brunson] and the rest of the squad, they all respect him. Thibs knows what to [do], Thibs respects him. We'll be able to put him in a position to make sure you can be more successful for yourself and the team. He's an All-Star, he's a veteran now ... I think the sky's the limit for Julius, even MVP for Julius."
Randle is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection. He has averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game over his last four seasons, so he can put up gaudy stat lines.
Even still, an MVP selection for Randle is a bold prediction from Johnson. Randle faces an uphill battle to even be considered MVP, as he'd have to have a better season than Brunson, who finished fifth in MVP voting last year.
DraftKings currently has Randle at +70,000 odds to win MVP.
If Randle is in the MVP conversation at the end of the season, then things will have seemingly gone very well (or poorly) for the Knicks this year.
