Knicks power forward Julius Randle did not score a triple-double, but he picked up the triple crown at All-Star Sunday.
He competed in the Skills Competition, was used as a prop in the Slam Dunk game and played 13 minutes in his first All-Star game.
In a limited run in the main event, Randle scored two early buckets – one on a driving dunk – for four points and hurled a straight-open pass to Donovan Mitchell for a dunk.
“It’s been a long day,” Randle said. “I’m not going to lie.”
After playing in all 38 Knicks games and leading the NBA game in a matter of minutes, it was good that he had a back seat as his team Durant suffered a 170-150 defeat against Team LeBron has.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Randle said of his limited minutes. ‘I lead the league in minutes. This is a wonderful thing. Believe me, I’m going well.
“It was amazing. Definitely everything I imagined to be a part of. I really enjoyed it, [was] excited. This is something I want to participate in a lot more. It was a wonderful experience, the conversations. It’s an experience I will never forget – first. ‘
At halftime, Knicks rookie Obi Toppin called Randle together to stand with his father so he could jump over the two.
“I was confident,” Randle said. ‘He did it like ten times [Saturday]. [Saturday], I was worried. Today he did it so much that I have nothing to worry about. ”
Last March 11, Randle was at a low point when he realized that his first season as a Knick ended due to the pandemic, and that he did not turn around his disappointing season.
Flash forward a year later, and Randle and his family were in Atlanta this weekend. His wife Kendra, whom he met in Kentucky, and son Kyden, now 4 years old, sat in court at State Farm Arena on Sunday night.
This is how quickly life as a Knick can change.
“He enjoys it,” Randle said of his son. “He definitely knows it’s not normal and cool. He definitely likes it. He likes to walk around and says he is an all-star kid. He enjoys it. ‘
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said joining All-Star break Randle plays like an ‘All-NBA player’. Three All-NBA teams are announced after the season and Randle’s numbers – if they keep up – can easily get him there if the Knicks make the playoffs.
Randle, 26, admitted in a recent podcast that he cried when learning coaches chose him as an All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference.
“It was more, just like the name All-Star, it was more the journey,” Randle said Sunday. “Appreciate the seven years so far in the league, the journey and process, year after year and the grind, hard work, sacrifice, dedication through the process. It made me think and appreciate the process more than anything. ”
The Knicks are fifth in the East thanks to Randle’s Ironman will.
He has not missed a game yet. He averaged 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He has been thinking carefully for the past two weeks about how disappointed he was that he failed as a leader in his first season during last season’s Knicks mess.
Now you can call Knicks leader Captain Randle, though Thibodeau does not believe he is donating titles.
“It means a lot – it’s a responsibility I really enjoy,” Randle said. ‘A lot of things about my way of leadership are to be vocal, but I try to set an example – how I approach work and study the game. Do things the right way. This is a big responsibility I would like to have. Hopefully in the second half I will continue to do that and be the best leader I can. Hopefully this means a victory. ”