Julius Randle assumed a larger scoring role in his second full NBA season, averaging 13.2 points while steadily increasing his shooting range. Known for his versatility, Randle averaged a team-high 8.6 rebounds and doubled his assist output from last year to 3.6 per game. He was at his best when his whole game came together, tallying three triple-doubles on the year.
Below is a summary of his exit interview with assembled media on Thursday:
- Randle called his meeting with Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and Luke Walton “super positive.” The Lakers’ front office wants him to return from the offseason “a beast coming back in incredible shape” and continue his work on finishing with his right hand.
- This year, Randle felt that he did a better job of not forcing shots. He is also confident that he can “get into the paint whenever I want,” but plans to continue working on his perimeter game to keep defenses honest.
- Randle said that he improved defensively this season, but that he still has plenty of room to improve. He feels that he is better at one-on-one coverage than team defense and needs to work on his shot blocking. However, he sees himself as versatile with enough strength to guard centers.
- The 22-year-old is aware of how he his play can vary from game to game. He feels that consistency is a key moving forward and that he needs to take each tilt “as serious as the one before.”
Randle was excited by his meeting with Johnson, Pelinka and Walton, saying, “I think there’s a clear vision of where we want to go and what we want to do.”