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[Saba Sports News] The New York Knicks have declared Julius Randle out for the rest of the season, raising questions about whether they’ve been transparent regarding his injury status for the past month. Randle has been sidelined since January 27 due to a dislocated right shoulder, and on Thursday, the Knicks confirmed he would need season-ending surgery.
An intriguing detail emerged from Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report during the Knicks’ Thursday game against the Sacramento Kings. Haynes disclosed a conversation with Randle, who mentioned he experienced a setback five weeks prior during a contact practice, based on a text message from Randle.
Randle had initially decided against surgery, hoping to return through rehabilitation. However, after re-injuring his shoulder, he was advised by several specialists that surgery was necessary to avoid permanent damage. This suggests that both Randle and the Knicks might have known about the necessity for surgery five weeks ago but delayed the decision, possibly holding out for a differing medical opinion.
Similarly, the Knicks’ communication about OG Anunoby’s elbow injury has also been under scrutiny. Initially described as “elbow inflammation” in January, Anunoby had surgery, returned, then faced a setback, which the team minimized as typical recovery pains. Anunoby has missed nine consecutive games since.
With their recent win against Sacramento, the Knicks now stand at a 45-31 record, likely avoiding the play-in tournament. Nonetheless, navigating the playoffs without Randle poses a significant challenge. This hurdle could grow if Anunoby is also unavailable for the season or plays while injured, complicating the Knicks’ aspirations for a deep playoff venture.