Julius Randle of the New York Knicks works against Alize Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center on April 5, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
These are heady times for the Knicks, riding a five-game winning streak and ascending into sixth place as the final 15-game stretch of the season begins. Julius Randle is playing like not just an All-Star, but maybe an All-NBA player.
This all seems unlikely and abrupt, the team in a place that few could have expected. But it was really a year ago that it all began. The season had been shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic and while the Knicks were the final team on the court when the season was suspended, they would be one of just eight teams left out of the restart.