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“Julius Randle is not a No. 1 option”: Stephen A Smith breaks down how the Knicks’ Most Improved Player cannot lead a team

Raahib Singh
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"Julius Randle is not a No. 1 option": Stephen A Smith breaks down how the Knicks' Most Improved Player cannot lead a team

NBA Analyst Stephen A Smith breaks down Julius Randle and his playoff performance and claims he isn’t a No. 1 Option on a Championship team

The New York Knicks surprised the entire league with their performance in the regular season. After years of not being able to make it to the post-season, the Knicks shook things up and booked the #4 spot for themselves. Tom Thibodeau and his Knicks impressed the whole basketball world with their impressive showing in the regular season.

However, all that made them successful in the regular season, came apart in the playoffs. Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks proved to be a little too much to handle for Julius Randle and the Knicks.

Also Read: “LeBron James chills in the backcourt the entire play as Lakers attempt to play basketball”: NBA Fans tear into GOAT candidate for subpar defensive effort in Game 6 vs Suns

Trae was spectacular throughout the series, On the other hand, Randle, who won the Most Improved Player award, seemed to be off his game.

Stephen A Smith gives his take on Julius Randle

Just like countless other Knicks fans, Stephen A Smith was also looking forward to the post-season. However, his dreams were also crushed at the hands of Trae Young.

After the series concluded and the Knicks were out, Stephen A took some time to break down what went wrong. In the latest episode of the First Take, Smith talks about Julius Randle. Randle, who was averaging over 24 points per game in the regular season, couldn’t even match his season average. He averaged 18 points per game in the series while shooting with low efficiency.

Also Read: “Well, at least Anthony Davis tried for LeBron James”: Skip Bayless blames the King for AD re-aggravating his injury in Lakers vs Suns Game 6

Considering this was Randle’s first playoff series ever, he could be given a pass for this season. However, what Smith said applies for the time being. If Randle wants to be the 1st Option, he has to boost his game and elevate it further.

About the author

Raahib Singh

Raahib Singh

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Raahib Singh is an NBA Journalist and Content Strategist at The SportsRush. A Computer Science Engineer by qualification, Raahib's passion for sports drew him towards TSR. He started playing basketball at 14 and has been following the NBA since 2013. His entry into the basketball world perfectly coincided with Stephen Curry putting the league on notice. Having followed the league for a long time, he decided to use his knowledge to become a sportswriter with The SportsRush in 2020. Raahib loves to put up some shots in his spare time, watch Cricket, Formula 1, and/or read a nice thriller.

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