Kendra Randle sure knows how to handle criticism like a pro. And she does so as and when the situation demands. If you remember, she had a sweet yet savage reply to Kenyon Martin’s reproof of a kiss she shared with her husband, Julius Randle, right after the Game 5 win over the Heat last year. And now Mrs. Randle is ready with yet another witty response, only this time, it’s ESPN on the receiving end.

The New York Knicks find themselves in a dilemma concerning their All-Star forward. With Mikal Bridges also arriving in NYC, they have effectively formed a Nova super team. And there is no doubt that as we advance, this squad of Villanova alums led by franchise superstar, Jalen Brunson, will be the focus as the rest of the team will have to find their fit around them – a difficult scenario that Randle, too, finds himself in, especially amid ongoing trade rumors. But you know who’s got his back? His partner of 11 years – Kendra Randle (née Shaw).

Malika Andrews and Co. had their eyes set on the 3x All-Star for their NBA Today episode. To support their statements, ESPN had a quick stats table on the screen, showing how the team fared with and without Randle. Big mistake, though!

And Mrs. Randle wasted no time pointing it out. “Bad choice of statistics,” she commented under the below IG post, followed by a laughing-with-tears emoji. The table in question featured three aspects of the Kentucky alum’s game – win/loss record, points per game, and points per game differential. Unfortunately for ESPN, they were all in favor of the man.

The Knicks went 29-17 with Randle on the court and 21-15 without him. Similarly, they had 115.4 points per game with him as opposed to the 109.5 without. Finally, the New York side was +5.6 when Julius was present, while the number decreased to +2.5 in his absence. Talk about digging their own grave!

So, what exactly did the eminent analysts and pro players have to say about Julius Randle’s future?

Julius Randle has a lot of thinking to do, per NBA analysts, amid trade rumors

In addition to the ‘Nova Knicks’, OG Anunoby has also made his case in the 23 games that he played for the rising NY side. He averaged some of the best numbers, a close third-best in fact, of his career – shooting 48.8% from the field and 39.4% from downtown. Aside from that, Anunoby also had 14.1 points alongside 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and just under 2 steals. Amidst all the influx of talent, Chiney Ogwumike pointed out that “the hardest position to be is watching your team succeed without you,” in response to Malika Andrews’ statement that Julius Randle was “essentially the number two option” for the Knicks after he got hurt.

Since arriving in New York, the 6’8 forward/center has been one of the most productive and consistent players, barring last season, where he played just 46 games. He’s averaged 22.6 points while contributing a smidgen under 10 rebounds and 5 assists with the Knicks shooting 45% from the field and 33.8% from beyond the arc. Not to mention, Julius Randle has also seen big minutes with the team – an average of 35.3 minutes any given night.

Now, these are aspects that might take a backseat with the upgraded roster the franchise has going into the 2024-25 season.

Per the 2x WNBA All-Star, Julius Randle will have to figure out where he fits in sooner rather than later. And why is that important? According to former NBA journeyman, Tim Legler, Bridges, and Anunoby are not your “go get your buckets guy(s)”. They are two of the Knicks’ best players that can create for themselves and others.

As such, there will come a point when someone on the team will have to take a lesser role. And that’s what Randle will have to see if he can do. It also comes at a time when Julius’ trade rumors are steadily picking up steam. In Bobby Marks’ appearance on the Lowe Podcast yesterday, he pointed out that the All-NBA Second-Teamer has been $181 million extension-eligible since early August.

However, there has been nary a peep from the Knicks that suggests they are planning on extending the veteran forward. Now Marks wasn’t saying that Randle wasn’t skilled or talented enough to earn $40 million a year. But it was rather an issue with the financial market. New York’s asset is their depth and to offer Randle the kind of deal he is looking for would potentially mean a severe depletion of multiple role players.

As for teams outside the Knicks, there aren’t many who can afford or accommodate the max-level contract. So, whether Julius Randle would opt for a team-friendly deal, like Jalen Brunson, or leave the team in 2025 free agency is very much up for debate.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.