Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau briefly commented on the health status of three-time NBA All-Star Julius Randle while in attendance for the groundbreaking of the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School in The Bronx on Wednesday.
Randle missed the second half of the Knicks’ season after dislocating his right shoulder in a Jan. 27 matchup against the Miami Heat and later underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in early April.
Asked if Randle is healthy, Thibodeau responded: “Uh yeah. I think so. We’ll see. We open camp on Monday, we get out there and we’ll get going. We’re looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
The Knicks are hosting training camp in Charleston, S.C. from Oct. 1-5 and will play their regular-season opener in Boston against the Celtics on Oct. 22. Starting center Mitchell Robinson is also recovering from surgery and is not expected to return to the floor until December or January.
Randle, who has been named to two All-NBA teams in his career, averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game for the Knicks prior to his injury.
He is entering what is expected to be the final year of his contract before he wields the ability to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Randle became eligible for a four-year, $181.5 million contract extension in early August, but a deal has yet to materialize.
SILVER ON BRUNSON
NBA commissioner Adam Silver was also among the key league fixtures present for the Earl Monroe School’s groundbreaking on Wednesday.
Silver spoke on Jalen Brunson’s controversial decision to leave $113 million on the table and sign a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension this summer.
“I think compliments to the Knicks and Jalen for creating an environment that he wanted to be in. Obviously, If he continues to play at the level he is, he’ll make much more money, which is wonderful,” Silver said in the South Bronx on Wednesday. “But I think what he did with his contract is consistent with the way he leads on the floor. I think he made clear to his teammates that he cares about them as well, and he also realizes that for him to compete for championships, he needs great players around him.”
Silver said he’s unsure whether or not Brunson’s decision will create a precedent moving forward for how other marquee free agents operate in contract negotiations.
Brunson made the decision to leave money on the table in order to give the Knicks the cap flexibility to improve the roster in pursuit of a championship.
“We’ve learned that when we make changes to the collective bargaining agreement, it takes several years to figure out how our teams will respond to them,” Silver said. “Ultimately with the new media deal, there will be a lot more money coming into the system. So it’s just a function of how it gets distributed. But regardless of how individual player contracts play out, the players get roughly 50 percent of the revenue we generate, so it’s just a distributive issue.
“But what we are seeing, of course, is six different champions over the last six years. It’s due to a lot of factors but part of it is the CBA system, and we want every team in the league to have an opportunity to compete, and that’s what we’re starting to see now.”
PRAISING LEON
Silver also classified the Knicks as one of the NBA’s better-managed teams since Leon Rose took control of the front office in 2020.
“We’re seeing, in a positive way, the effects of strong management,” Silver said, addressing the narrowing disparity between the NBA’s small- and big-market franchises competing for a title. “You mentioned Oklahoma City. They managed to stay competitive. They have their ebb and flow but amazingly-managed team — and now you’re seeing that with the Knicks as well. Theres always gonna be un-luck. Teams aren’t gonna get the draft right, guys are gonna get injured but I think over time the best managed teams see to be the most successful in the league.”
The league commissioner also noted the difference in the city’s atmosphere when the Knicks are in a position to compete for a title.
“As a lifelong New Yorker, it’s fantastic to see. Of course as commissioner of the league, I support all teams equally,” he said, drawing uproarious laughter. “But certainly I get a disproportionate amount of comments pro-Knicks as I live in New York City, and walking around the streets, you can just tell how enthusiastic the fans are in this town.
“I’ve always thought of New York City as a basketball town. I think when I talk to players around the league on other teams, many of whom are from the New York area: of course they don’t want to lose to the Knicks, but they love coming to [Madison Square Garden], having a competitive Knicks team, having the celebrities sit courtside, having that special energy in the building. I hear that from players around the league. They don’t wanna lose when they’re here, but having a competitive Knicks team, they love the environment at Madison Square Garden.”
