Quentin Grimes Rips 'BS Narrative' Around Knicks All-Star Julius Randle
After the 2020-21 playoffs, New York Knicks fans wondered if power forward Julius Randle's three-year, $63 million contract was worth the price. He made his first NBA All-Star Game but shot 29.8 percent from the field in the first round of the playoffs, where the Knicks were eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks in their first postseason appearance since 2018.
The front office, believing that was just a fluke, extended his contract on a four-year, $117 million deal that offseason. Randle's game stumbled in 2021-22 despite averaging a team-high 20.1 points per game, but fortunately for wary Knicks fans, Randle was back to his old self this past season, averaging team highs in points (25) and rebounds (10), and earning a second All-Star Game invite. However, he'd struggle in another postseason trip, this time averaging 16.6 points on 37.4 percent shooting over 10 appearances after missing the final five games of the regular season with an injury.
Despite the struggles, Knicks shooting guard and fellow starter Quentin Grimes defended Randle, admiring that he played through the ankle ailment
“It just really shows you that nobody should ever be questioning his toughness, how much he wants it, how much he cares about the team, how much he cares about winning,” Grimes told SNY's Ian Begley during Team USA's FIBA World Cup preparation.
Since point guard Jalen Brunson signed with the Knicks, Randle has taken most of the blame for the team's shortcomings in the court of public opinion. Grimes, working with Team USA's Select Team, said that he heavily disagrees with that perception.
“I think there’s a certain narrative around him, which I think is total bulls--t honestly," Grimes said. "He cares a lot about this team. He does everything he can possibly [do] to make sure his body is right, to make sure he’s in the best shape possible to make sure he can give it all. So that’s my dog. It just shows how much he wants to win.”
Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of Randle's aforementioned extension, the type of deal that will potentially lead to Knicks fans continuing to blame any shortcoming on Randle, even though he's been a tremendous factor in the team's optimistic outlook after winning their first postseason series since 2013.
Randle could perhaps change that perception with another All-Star or All-NBA campaign. But, if Grimes is to be believed, Randle cares more about the team's success, which is far more respectable.
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