Knicks' Julius Randle, Team LeBron Fall in NBA All-Star Game
Team Giannis left Julius Randle and Team LeBron singing the blues at the home of the Utah Jazz.
Randle, the New York Knicks' representative at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, scored 11 points for the team led by LeBron James (LA Lakers) but that was hardly enough to counter a downright historic effort from Jayson Tatum (Boston). Leading the way for the team chosen by Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Tatum set an All-Star Game record with 55 points in a 184-175 victory.
In defeat, Randle became the first Knick to reach double-figures in scoring in All-Star Game since Carmelo Anthony did so in New Orleans in 2017. Randle made it clear in the build-up to the Salt Lake City trip that he wanted to play with both James and his close friend Paul George (LA Clippers), a request that the NBA's all-time leading scorer fulfilled when picking teams prior to the contest.
Alas for James, his team appeared to take inspiration from Randle's brief, if not understandably futile, effort in Saturday's 3-Point contest. With the exhibition living up to its defense-free reputation, there were plenty of opportunities from deep, but Team LeBron went 17-of-60. Team Giannis went 29-of-66 with the extra point, and a bulk of Tatum's scoring came from the three-ball (sinking 10 to match his rebound total). Antetokounmpo's team won the game, passing the established target score of 182, when 3-Point Contest winner Damian Lillard (Portland) sank his eighth and final triples of the night.
Though he was not immune to the deep shortcomings (1-of-5), Randle was a bright spot for Team LeBron. He was among four of James' chosen reserves to reach double figures and his rate of plus-9 was tied for the best on the team alongside Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana). Sunday marked Randle's second All-Star appearance, previously repping the Knicks in Atlanta in 2021.
Due to injury, Antetokounmpo played less than a minute and primarily stuck to his general manager role. Among Randle's teammates, Jaylen Brown (Boston) led the James group with 35 points while Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) and Kyrie Irving (Dallas) had 32 each.
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers.
In the meantime, Randle returns to a Knicks team set for an intriguing 22-game stretch toward the postseason, which begins on Friday night in Washington (7 p.m. ET, MSG). New York (33-27) currently holds the sixth and final automatic Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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