Julius Randle wasn’t upset about being traded from a contending team in Minnesota to a rebuilding franchise in Brooklyn, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes in history only for subscribers. Now with his fifth team in 13 years, Randle is grateful to be in a situation where he feels valued.
“Everybody knows it’s a business and things happen” he said. “But when you’re somewhere where you’re really wanted and you have the validation of an organization that really values you and what you offer, it’s an incredible feeling. It just takes away the anxiety and the worry or the pressure. You just feel like you can be the best you can be. So, from day one, I’ve felt that: the support. I almost get goosebumps just thinking about it because the support has been amazing. I love every part of it, I appreciate them so much just like they me.”
Lewis says Randle is happy to be back in New York and didn’t want to be traded to the Knicks in 2024. He likes to work with Jordi Fernandezwho, as Lewis points out, has a track record of good performances from veterans since taking over as head coach, and Randle isn’t buying into the prospect of the Nets staying at the bottom of the East.
“(Director General) Sean (Marx) that’s why he brought me here, because it’s time to win. So it just is what it is.” Randle said. “I’m not here to lose. I don’t think anybody is here to lose this year. So, yeah. We definitely want to be a team that comes out and competes every night. We play to win. It’s very simple, as far as I can tell. I don’t play to lose. … At this point in my career, I’m playing to win and I’m giving myself a chance to win every night, make the right moves every day and see where I go. accepts us.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Recruit guard Mikel Brown Jr Lewis confirmed he will make his preseason debut Wednesday in Miami. a separate story. The sixth pick in this year’s draft sat out the Nets’ first three games after spraining his left ankle in practice. “I attacked it every day,” – said Brown. “Just being able to go out there and play basketball again, it would mean the world.”
- Cheney JohnsonLewis adds that the meteoric rise continues as he bids to play rotation minutes this season another piece. Johnson joined the Nets on a two-way contract last December and is seeking to be moved to a standard deal. He was part of the second unit during the preseason, earning playing time ahead of some former first-round picks. “He worked very hard this summer” Fernandez said. “He had a really good summer league (and) he (had) a really good camp. You see his intensity and his physicality, and that’s what we need. Obviously, nothing is guaranteed here; he has to continue to grow. I think the other guys are doing a great job as well; so the team is in the right place competing for minutes.”
- Nolan Traore learning to use his quick first step to make room for his jumper, notices CJ Holmes of The New York Daily Newswhich examines Traore’s struggle for playing time on a team that just drafted Brown into a backfield that already has last year’s first-rounders Yehor Demin and Ben Saraf.
