Former Kentucky Wildcat and current NBA All-Star will have season-ending shoulder surgery

This former Wildcat is getting shut down for the season in the NBA.

Jan 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) controls the ball / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA regular season is coming to an end, and the teams are looking to make a strong push to the postseason.

The NBA Playoffs will be full of former Kentucky players as guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, and Karl-Anthony Towns have all secured spots in the postseason.

One Kentucky Wildcat will not partake in the NBA Playoffs despite his team being there, as the New York Knicks will be without forward Julius Randle.

Randle dislocated his shoulder on January 27th, and we haven't seen him on the floor since. The Knicks recently announced that Randle will undergo a season-ending shoulder surgery.

Randle did everything in his power to avoid having surgery and get back this season, but it just wasn't in the cards for the former Kentucky Wildcat.

Randle was named an All-Star this season but was unable to play due to his shoulder injury.

Over the last few seasons, Randle has truly come into his own as an NBA player and developed into one of the best players in the league. The former number seven overall pick of the Lakers was averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists per game for the Knicks before suffering his injury.

The Knicks currently have the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference and will be in the playoffs. With Randle on the shelf for the remainder of the season, the Knicks will need Jalen Brunson to continue to play the way he has if they want to have a chance of winning a championship.