Julius Randle underwent surgery on his right shoulder in April, and according to Ian Begley of SNY, his rehab has been progressing well. The Knicks stated that Randle would be re-evaluated in September, and while he may not be ready for the start of training camp, he is expected to be back on the court for the season opener on October 22 against the Boston Celtics—or shortly thereafter.
This is encouraging news for the Knicks, who managed to perform well in Randle’s absence and nearly reached the Eastern Conference Finals, though they missed his scoring presence, especially as injuries piled up for the team.
The situation with Mitchell Robinson is less clear, making his status more critical following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure. Robinson had surgery in mid-May to repair a stress injury to his left ankle and, according to Begley, has not yet been cleared for high-intensity weight-bearing activities during his rehab. He still faces several obstacles before being cleared to practice. Given this uncertainty, it makes sense that the Knicks re-signed Precious Achiuwa in free agency to provide depth at the position, whether or not Robinson is ready for the season’s start.
Knicks not worrying about Jalen Brunson’s wrist injury
The good news for the Knicks is that Jalen Brunson, who underwent surgery in mid-May to repair a broken left hand sustained during Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers, has declared that he’s ready to go. This announcement came during a press conference where Brunson was named the captain of the Knicks. All signs point to him being fully ready for the start of training camp.
The Knicks boast a deep roster, further strengthened by the blockbuster trade that brought Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. However, Brunson remains the team’s cornerstone, driving their success. His performance last season put him in the conversation as a top-10 player in the league, and if he continues to build on that momentum, New York has a strong chance of making a deep playoff run.
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