Knicks All-Star Julius Randle's Replacement Revealed
Two new All-Stars are checking in before the exhibition's tip-off.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that Scottie Barnes (Toronto) and Trae Young (Atlanta) will be added to the Eastern Conference squad for the Feb. 18 showcase in Indianapolis. They'll be replacing New York Knicks star Julius Randle and defending NBA MVP Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), both of whom are nursing injuries.
Randle, selected to his third All-Star Game has been missing since leaving the Knicks' Jan. 27 game against the Miami Heat early with a shoulder injury later revealed to be a dislocation. He's set to miss at least multiple weeks before a re-evaluation and has sat out of each of the Knicks' last four games. Prior to his injury, Randle had rendered a slow start long forgotten, as he was averaging 24 points and 9.2 rebounds a game.
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Embiid, on the other hand, has not played since Jan. 30, as a knee injury has likewise sidelined him indefinitely. The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Tuesday that he would be out at least four weeks after undergoing a procedure. That span will keep him out of both the All-Star Game and the Knicks' Feb. 22 visit to Philadelphia, which will be both teams' first game after the festivities in Indianapolis. Embiid was selected to be one of the starters for the East alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Damian Lillard (Milwaukee), and Jayson Tatum (Boston).
As for the substitutes, Barnes is on his way to his first All-Star Game in his third season while the sixth-year man Young is going to his third. Barnes is one of the headliners of the revamped Toronto Raptors, who have dealt away most of their leftovers from their 2019 championship group, including OG Anunoby, who now resides on the Knicks' lineup.
The 2022 Rookie of the Year is averaging a career-best 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals. Young, the Knicks' nemesis from the 2021 postseason, is putting up 27.3 points and personal-bests in assists (10.9) and steals (1.5). He finished second on player voting but was not among either the original starters (where fan voting was the primary criteria) or reserves (chosen by coaches).
New York (32-18) has five more games left before Jalen Brunson travels to Indianapolis for the All-Star festivities, as he's also set to partake in the Three-Point Contest. The first of the five lands on Tuesday night when the Knicks face the depleted Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
