Julius Randle, New Orleans Pelicans
After a rollercoaster stint in Los Angeles, Julius Randle found himself on the outer as the Lakers chased LeBron James this summer. As they added veteran talent around The King, Randle asked the team to renounce his rights so he could find a bigger role elsewhere.
He wound up signing a two-year deal with in New Orleans, and while he has started just four games this season he has been a key contributor for the Pelicans. As part of a three-pronged big man attack with starters Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic, Randle has played and been effective alongside both.
With both Davis and Mirotic able to stretch defenses out to the perimeter, Randle’s unique skillset has been allowed to flourish. He’s able to overpower defenders both off the dribble and in the post, and the dual threat of his passing and finishing makes him a tough cover.
Despite playing the least minutes per game since his one-game rookie season, he’s averaging a career-high 17.9 points per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Most of that damage is being done in the paint, as he’s hitting 67.5 percent of his shots from inside five feet.
While the Pelicans’ performance has fluctuated, Randle has been a consistent contributor. He’s played every game so far this season, reaching double figures in all but one and posting nine double-doubles.
His performance in their win over San Antonio epitomised the upside that he brings to the table. He became just the fourth player to record a triple-double in 25 minutes or less, and did so without a single turnover.
Julius Randle is just the fourth player to record a triple-double in 25 minutes or less, and @J30_RANDLE is the only player to do this while scoring 20-plus points. #DoItBig https://t.co/QYTFOCsLyC
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 20, 2018
Games like that have always been Randle’s ceiling, even during his darkest days in LA. What looks to have changed now is his floor – his worst nights are no longer disasters of low effort and late-game benchings.
That consistency is what was missing with the Lakers, and at least some of the blame for that lay with team. If the early going this season is any indication, a change of scenery may have been all Randle needed to finally find a role and excel in it.