"Can he fit in?"- Matt Barnes raises questions about Knicks $117 million star's ability to mesh with team's plans
NBA vet Matt Barnes believes that there is one key to the New York Knicks' success this coming season. After a strong end to the 2023-24 regular season that included a second-round appearance in the playoffs despite injuries to both Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, Barnes feels as though the Knicks' 2024-25 season could come down to one key factor.
As he explained on Wednesday's episode of Sirius XM's "NBA Radio" with Rick Kamla and Adam Amin, Julius Randle needs to buy in. As a player who is typically considered to be ball-dominant, Matt Barnes believes that Randle needs to buy in after seeing the Knicks' impressive play without him last season.
"I think they have a lot of talent and for every reason you stated. But my biggest key to this year is, will Julius buy into what he saw while he was out? You know, obviously this team was able to make a run and really found their rhythm.
"But we all know Julius is someone that demands the ball and really gets to work. 'Can he fit into this style of offense in the way this team plays now?' Is my question." Barnes said.
In addition to Randle coming back from injury, the team also made a massive offseason acquisition by trading for Mikal Bridges, who has proven himself as a talented scorer and will be expecting his fair share of touches on offense.
"I think Julius has always adapted to whatever challenge he's faced," - Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau's recent comments may answer Matt Barnes' question
As Matt Barnes explained on Wednesday, the Knicks will need Julius Randle to find his fit within the new-look Knicks offense led by Jalen Brunson. While he showed some hesitance on whether Randle's ball-dominant play style will fit in with the team's new offensive schemes, Tom Thibodeau isn't worried.
On Tuesday, the veteran coach spoke in a Q&A with NBA.com's Steve Aschburner, where he seemingly answered the question Barnes posed on Wednesday. After the three-time All-Star missed significant time last season due to a shoulder injury, Thibodeau thinks many may have already forgotten just how dominant Randle was.
"I think Julius has always adapted to whatever challenge he’s faced each year. People forget the level that he’s played at.
"Four years ago, he had a monster season and we didn’t have the shooting we have now, so the floor is going to be more open. We got a glimpse of that in January, which was his last month of basketball," Thibodeau said.
With the addition of Mikal Bridges this summer and the addition of OG Anunoby last year, Thibodeau seems optimistic about the season ahead. Although the team lost Isaiah Hartenstein to the OKC Thunder, Thibodeau revealed that he could wind up playing Randle as a center at different points throughout this year.
The Knicks will open their training camp on Oct. 1 and will play their first preseason game on Oct. 6 against the Charlotte Hornets.