“Terrible teammate”: Josh Hart jokingly taunts Julius Randle after Knicks All-Star opts for season-ending surgery 

Despite the somber mood surrounding the team, New York Knicks’ star forward Julius Randle’s announcement of undergoing season-ending right shoulder surgery on Thursday was a major blow. However, in an effort to lighten up the atmosphere in the locker room, Knicks wing Josh Hart couldn’t resist cracking a joke.

On Jan. 27, during the Knicks’ 125-109 victory over the Miami Heat at home, Randle suffered a dislocated right shoulder with 4:27 left in the game. While driving towards the basket, he was met by Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. who attempted to draw a charge, resulting in a harsh fall for Randle.

Despite his injury, Randle dedicated the past two-plus months to tirelessly rehabilitating in order to be ready for the playoffs. Unfortunately, he saw minimal improvement and according to various sources, multiple doctors advised against him coming back this season due to the uncertainties surrounding his shoulder.

In order to protect the three-time All-Star’s long-term future, it was necessary to not rush his return and instead opt for surgery. This decision will extend his recovery timeline by at least five months.

On Thursday, Hart was questioned about whether he sympathizes with Julius Randle “on a personal level”due to his continuous attempts to make a comeback being fruitless. Rather than giving a serious response, the 29-year-old playfully remarked that he feels sorry for the rest of the Knicks because Randle raised their expectations only to disappoint them.

“I feel for us because he just kept us in the wind for two months. Terrible teammate, terrible human being,”Hart said.

Despite this, Hart provided a more somber answer, discussing Randle’s unfortunate injuries in the previous two seasons. He also expressed confidence in his teammate’s ability to bounce back and perform at an elite level in the upcoming season.

“As competitors, as hoopers, you never want your season to end on injury,”Hart said. “So, we know that’s a tough thing for him. Obviously, he wasn’t able to end last year fully healthy, and he was playing great and had a great rhythm. So, it definitely was just unfortunate.

“But now, for him, it’s just about hitting his rehab strong and getting better this offseason, and he’ll come back next year better than he was this year.”

Julius Randle’s Positive Outlook on Rehab Progress

On Thursday, Julius Randle discussed his choice to undergo surgery, mentioning that despite his strong desire to come back for his team, there was no other solution to improve his condition.

“I believe in this team, and wanted to give it a try,” Randle said. “It didn’t work out, unfortunately. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it was my only option at this point. It wasn’t getting right.. .. “It’s frustrating, but I’m at peace knowing I tried everything.”

The Knicks (45-31) are currently enjoying their strongest season in terms of winning percentage (.592) since the 2012-13 season (.659). In addition, they bolstered their roster with several key additions before the trade deadline, such as versatile forward OG Anunoby and sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic. As a result, they seem well-prepared for a successful postseason campaign.

Despite the presence of Randle, New York has managed to maintain a middling performance with a record of 16-14, compared to their 29-17 record when he is on the court.

Despite the star forward’s season-ending surgery, the Knicks may still struggle to make a serious impact in the East. However, there is still a possibility that Jalen Brunson and his teammates can overcome the underwhelming state of the conference and secure a playoff series victory or two.