Knicks’ Julius Randle named NBA All-Star for first time in career

Julius Randle can cross this one off his checklist. He’s now an NBA All-Star.

Randle has been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a reserve. He will become the first Knicks player to participate in an All-Star Game since Carmelo Anthony in 2017.

Randle’s second season with the Knicks so far has been an awakening. He’s posted career highs in points (23.2), rebounds (11.0), assists (5.5), and minutes (36.8). Randle’s emerged as a future cornerstone for the team.

This week, the Knicks head into their Tuesday home game against the Golden State Warriors with a 15-16 record. Randle’s All-Star level performance has played an integral role in the team’s surprise push for the playoffs.

“Just as you grow as a player throughout the course of your career, you learn how to do the little things to help the team win,” Randle recently said. “Coach (Tom Thibodeau) has done a great job of coaching me up, putting me in those positions. And we’re winning, having those numbers.”

“But I think a lot of people maybe, before the year, may have counted us out as a team, said that we weren’t going to be that good as a team. We’re running a lot of heads on a game-to-game basis so that probably has something to do with it too.”

The league’s coaches voted Randle in, it’s a strong indication his performance this season has been recognized around the league.

“It would mean a lot,” Randle said about making the team. “My goal was never just to play in the NBA. I always felt that I would get there. I just wanted to be the best player I could possibly be and reach my potential. And I try to push myself every day to do so. I would definitely be a milestone.”

Across the Brooklyn Bridge, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were voted into the All-Star Game as starters for the Eastern Conference. James Harden has reportedly been selected as a reserve.

This year’s All-Star Game is scheduled for March 7 in Atlanta.

Image: by Alex Menendez/Getty Images