The New York Knicks secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2024 NBA Playoffs by defeating the Chicago Bulls on the last day of the regular season, coupled with the Milwaukee Bucks’ loss to the Orlando Magic. Achieving 50 wins was a remarkable feat considering the challenges the team faced, primarily due to injuries.
Injuries posed the biggest challenge for the Knicks throughout the season, with key players missing significant time. At times, the team had only five or six healthy players with full-time NBA contracts available.
Among the sidelined players was All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on January 27th against the Miami Heat. Despite his efforts to rehabilitate the injury and return to the court, he faced setbacks and ultimately underwent surgery.
Randle’s absence, along with injuries to Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby, would have crippled many teams. However, the Knicks rallied despite their starting frontcourt being sidelined, reaching the 50-win mark.
Even though Randle couldn’t contribute on the court, his presence remained influential. Donte DiVincenzo highlighted Randle’s impact, emphasizing his engagement and support for the team despite his injury.
Randle played in only 46 games due to the shoulder injury, marking the second consecutive season he underwent surgery due to an injury sustained against the Heat.
Although unable to play, Randle is expected to return to the sidelines once physically able, providing the team with another source of inspiration and support.
