Any time the New York Knicks spend money, fans tend to assume the worst. This is something of a defense mechanism, as the Knicks have been burned—repeatedly—by big contracts since the turn of the century.
It’s become common for fans to list Julius Randle as the new disappointment in New York lore, but the 25-year-old has actually pieced together a strong first season in orange and blue.
Randle has been something of a journeyman, now playing for his third team in six seasons. That label is a bit misleading, however, as the Los Angeles Lakers infamously undervalued his growth as a player, and his stint with the New Orleans Pelicans was a personal prove-it year.