The Knicks survived one round without Julius Randle. Can they make it through another?
Jalen Brunson put New York on his back in the team's first-round win over Philadelphia in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The one-time All-Star started slow but closed the series with three straight 40-point games, bringing his average to 35.5 points.
Now, the Knicks will face the Pacers for a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. New York's supporting cast will continue to be tested with Randle on the sideline.
Randle has been out since the end of January with a shoulder issue. There was hope that he would be able to rejoin the Knicks as they look to build on last season's run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, but he has since undergone surgery.
Here's what you need to know about Randle's injury and his status for the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
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What is Julius Randle's injury?
The Knicks announced on April 4 that Randle was going to have surgery on his right shoulder.
The three-time All-Star had been sidelined since Jan. 27 after dislocating his right shoulder. Late in the fourth quarter of New York's win over Miami, Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. attempted to draw a charge on Randle. As Randle rose for a layup, the collision caused him to fall directly on his right shoulder.
Randle appeared in 46 of a possible 82 games in 2023-24. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Is Julius Randle playing in the 2024 NBA Playoffs?
The Knicks are expected to be without Randle for the duration of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Randle hoped to avoid surgery and return in time for the postseason, but he was warned by doctors that "continued instability in the shoulder made it unsafe for him to play again this season," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Randle reportedly risked permanent damage in his shoulder if he returned before surgery.
"We wanted to take a look at, could we rehab it and strengthen it get it to the point where he could play?" head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "And we could never get there, so this is the decision."
Randle is expected to make a full recovery and return around the start of next season, per Wojnarowski.
The Knicks went 29-17 with Randle and 21-15 without him in the 2023-24 regular season.
Knicks vs. Pacers schedule, results
| Game | Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV Channel/Result |
| 1 | May 6 | at New York | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| 2 | May 8 | at New York | 8 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| 3 | May 10 | at Indiana | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| 4 | May 12 | at Indiana | 3:30 p.m. | ABC, Sling |
| 5* | TBD | at New York | TBD | TNT, Sling |
| 6* | TBD | at Indiana | TBD | ESPN, Sling |
| 7* | TBD | at New York | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary
