Knicks Julius Randle Will Be out for the Season, What Does This Mean for New York's NBA Playoff Picture?

(Photo : Kirk Irwin / Stringer) CLEVELAND, OH - Julius Randle (#30) of the New York Knicks stands on the court during a timeout in the fourth quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. Randle left the game at the end of the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. New York defeated Cleveland 106-95 to win the series 4-1.

The New York Knicks will be without star power forward Julius Randle for the NBA postseason.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski revealed in a tweet that the All-star will be out for the remainder of the season as he will undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery.

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Wojnarowski noted that he has been relentlessly rehabilitating to resume playing for the Knicks before the NBA Playoffs. Still, doctors warned him that his shoulder's continued instability made it unsafe for him to play again this season.

He also revealed that Julius Randle is expected to make a full recovery and will return next season. 

Julius Randle, who last played back on Jan 27th against the Miami Heat, was in the middle of another strong season. Prior to the injury, averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists per game. 

Randle logged 46 games played this season and was selected to be an All-Star for the third time. 

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New York Knicks: NBA Playoff Hopes Without Julius Randle

The New York Knicks are going to have to find a way to get it done without their All-Star power forward.

The Knicks are currently on a three-game slide after losing their last matchup to the Miami Heat. With seven games remaining in the season, they are holding the fifth seed in the NBA Eastern Conference.

They stand only two games above the NBA Play-In and 2.5 games back from the second seed.

Julius Randle's injury limits the Knicks' higher ceiling. They were 12-2 with Randle and OG Anunoby in the lineup and had the league's No.1 defense during those 14 games. 

The New York Knicks looked poised to make a deep postseason run, but now, with the health concerns of Anunoby and Randle, it might be much harder to make a run in the NBA Playoffs for the Knicks.  

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