Julius Randle undergoes season-ending surgery in Knicks' crushing blow

NBA

broke down

by Peter Botti

Julius Randle did everything he could to return to the Knicks this season without undergoing surgery, but the All-Star forward couldn't avoid this season-ending option.

Randle, who has not played since dislocating his right shoulder on Jan. 27, will undergo surgery and his condition will be re-evaluated in five months. Knicks announced that Before Thursday's game against the Kings.

Randle had resumed training last month but had been waiting weeks for medical clearance to resume contact, which never came.

Randle said on February 21 that he feels “better and stronger” with a goal of returning before the season ends.

But within those same comments, the three-time All-Star acknowledged that surgery on his non-throwing shoulder was still a possibility.

“We'll see. There are still steps necessary. It's a process for everything. I'll have to weigh everything in the end and decide from there,” Randle said. “But right now I'm just focused on trying to avoid that [surgery]”Obviously I have to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

OG Anunoby has also been mostly sidelined since Jan. 27 with a right elbow injury that required surgery.

The two-way wing returned for three games in mid-March, but was scheduled to miss a ninth straight game Thursday against Sacramento.

Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Josh Hart (wrist) are listed as questionable for the Knicks, who started the day in fifth place in the Eastern Conference playoff spot, a half-game behind the Magic.

“I look at it like this is the team we're going to have,” Hart said Sunday. “I think that's the way we have to deal with it, that these guys aren't coming back and obviously we'd be pleasantly surprised if they did.”

They are 15-14 in 29 games without Randle, who also underwent ankle surgery last season after missing the final five games of the regular season and Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs against the Heat with that injury.

Randle, 29, has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract worth $27.6 million for next season, plus a $29.5 million player option for 2025-26.