Knicks' Julius Randle undergoes ankle surgery after injuries
The ankle injury that sidelined Julius Randle for the end of the regular season and limited him in the playoffs required surgery on Friday, though the Knick star is expected to be back for training camp in September.
“Julius Randle underwent successful arthroscopic surgery yesterday on his left ankle,” the Knicks said Saturday morning in a statement. “He will resume basketball activities later this summer.”
The ankle had caused Randle to miss the last five regular-season games, and the re-aggravation cost him some time in the playoffs and limited his effectiveness.
But after their season ended at the hands of Miami, he had refused to use the injury as an alibi.
“No, I’m not one to make excuses,” Randle had said.
Randle’s initial injury occurred during a March 29 regular-season game, ironically also against the Heat.
Late in the first half, he went up to rebound a missed 3-point attempt but came down on Miami center Bam Adebayo’s foot and left the game with what the team deemed was a sprained ankle.
Julius Randle aggravated his ankle injury during Game 5 of the Knicks’ series against the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg
With the Knicks playoff berth already secured, Randle sat out the final five games of the regular season.
He returned to the lineup for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against Cleveland and contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds.
But in Game 5 against the Cavaliers Randle aggravated the same ankle injury, missing the second half of that game and the first game of the Knicks’ second-round series against Miami.
Before the ankle injuries, Randle had started all 77 games for the Knicks and became their lone All-Star selection, averaging 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists on .459 percent shooting overall and .343 from 3-point range.
Randle was roundly criticized for his struggles during the playoffs, though he was clearly impacted by his ankle injury.
He averaged just 16.6 points and 8.3 boards in the postseason, his efficiency plummeting to .338 percent shooting and a mere .235 from behind the arc.
“Obviously disappointed. Wanted more. Expected more,” Randle had said. “Same thing as the season: Some good moments, some moments to learn from. Just got to evaluate and move forward and see what you can do as an individual to help the team move forward.”
After Friday’s surgery, now the next step in helping the Knicks move forward is for Randle to get healthy in the offseason.
Julius Randle attempts a shot during the Knicks’ playoff series against the Heat. Charles Wenzelberg
He alluded to as much after their Game 6 loss to Miami.
“Yeah, whenever I get there. Right now I’m not really in a place looking at the offseason as far as what I got to improve on or whatever it is,” Randle said. “Right now it’s recovery, spend time with my family, reevaluate everything and move forward.”
The 28-year-old Randle was named All-NBA and an All-Star for the second time with the Knicks, after a season with the Lakers and four with the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Obviously, it’s a great honor. It’s a testament, you know, those things don’t happen with the group of guys that we have,” Randle had said at the time. “I’ve said it all year: It takes the belief of the front office, our coaching staff, and most of all my teammates. They trust me to go out there and compete every night and play at a high level. I just thank god. It’s a huge honor.”
Source: New York Post
