Julius Randle lifted the New York Knicks out of the NBA's basement, only to watch them win their first championship in decades after trading him. That same summer, Randle returned to the Big Apple as a member of the crosstown rival Brooklyn Nets.
The three-time All-Star said he's happy for his former Knicks teammates, and hopes to reach similar heights with Brooklyn.
“I'm happy [for the Knicks], man,” Randle said. “I kept in touch with guys. I've had a lot of great moments here in the city. I spent five years here. My family has grown here. So I was extremely excited, happy for those guys. A lot went into that year. It's not just myself, [but also] years before me. So, just happy for those guys. I was just last month on a trip with OG [Anunoby] in Brazil, just kicking it, talking with each other. So it was a great thing, not just for them, for the organization, [but] for the city that has craved that; we know how New York is. It has craved that winning formula, winning environment. And we plan to do the same thing here.”
While many will sneer at Randle's Nets championship desires, the Knicks weren't in a dissimilar position when he arrived.
New York won 17 games in 2018-19, tying the team's worst season in franchise history. The Knicks signed Randle the following summer and won 41 games during his second season, earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They then finished third and second in the East during his final two years with the team.
Julius Randle ready for new challenge with Nets two years after Knicks tenure
Randle played alongside several Knicks draft picks during that ascension, including R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson and Obi Toppin. He'll now lead a Nets group that includes seven first-round picks from the last two drafts, namely Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr.
Randle recently told reporters he's “at peace” as he and his family return to New York City. He also said he's excited by Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez's plan to utilize him.
“I pride myself on my versatility, my ability to adjust and adapt to different situations. As soon as I knew I was coming here, I asked for the film immediately,” Randle said. “Jordi has a long history, has been to a lot of different places, and has learned from a lot of different people. Just seeing the stuff that he does on the court really, really excited me. I felt like it's somewhere that I would be able to fit in really well and be able to bring out parts of my game that I haven't yet or haven't been able to, maybe in some years or whatever, but I'm excited.”
Following two tanking seasons, the Nets are aiming to take a step back toward the playoff picture in 2026-27. Randle will be integral to that pursuit, and the 32-year-old is eager to get to work with his new teammates.
“It starts with training camp, and we just build from there. Stack days, continue to improve, come in with the right focus every single day. And for me, I've done that in my career, and the teams that I've been a part of have as well, and the results always follow,” he said. “I think we have great leadership in the coaching staff with Jordi and everybody else. We have the talent, and I think it's really about the mindset: not just coming in every single day, but coming in with intention and purpose. Understanding that things won't always be easy, knowing how to navigate them, and showing up to work the same way. Whether you lose by 20 or win by 20, nothing changes; the process stays the same. So I think the biggest thing for us is just falling in love with the journey every single day, falling in love with the process, and the results will follow that.”