Julius Randle
AP Photo

New York Knicks center Julius Randle has some lofty goals on his mind heading into the upcoming 2019-20 regular season.

Julius Randle is one of the newest individuals to step onto the floor for the New York Knicks. The veteran inked a three-year deal worth $62.1 million this past summer and is looking to be one of the top dogs on the roster.

But Randle isn’t just looking to improve on his 2018-19 season where he averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds through 73 games for the New Orleans Pelicans. The sixth-year pro has loftier goals on his mind, both personal and team-oriented.

“I just feel like situation and opportunity. Everything I’ve been through in the past, all the work I’ve put in in the past has prepared me for this opportunity now,” he said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “So [becoming an All-Star is] just a goal of mine. Eventually you feel like you have an opportunity. I feel like I do.”

“(The playoffs are) extremely important,” Randle added. “I’m not going to sit here and talk about every day but it’s extremely important. That’s what you work hard for. You talk about opportunity, this is my opportunity to be a real leader.”

The Knicks have taken part in two of their four preseason matches thus far. They defeated the Washington Wizards in the first contest by a score of 104-99 but fell to Washington 115-99 in the second. Through the two games, Randle has averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 45% shooting from the field and 33% from behind the arc.

The former Laker and Pelican will most definitely find himself in the starting lineup for the Knicks when the regular season begins on Oct. 23 in San Antonio.

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Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.