Knicks' Julius Randle Rises In 2nd NBA All-Star Game Fan Vote Returns
Julius Randle is doing what he can to make New York a swing state in his own election.
The New York Knicks forward's bid for his third NBA All-Star Game appearance is gaining traction if the second returns concerning fan voting for next month's exhibition in Indianapolis are any indication: after he was snubbed from the top 10 vote earners in part one, Randle ranks eighth among Eastern Conference frontcourt representatives in new numbers released by the Association on Thursday.
Entering Thursday, Randle had accumulated 361,202 votes, putting him ahead of Paolo Banchero (Orlando) and Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn). Kyle Kuzma (Washington) dropped out of the top 10.
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After the release of the first returns, Randle remarked he was not focused on individual honors such as an All-Star Game invite but was instead centered on the Knicks' ongoing winning streak. It appears, however, that the two are interconnected.
New York's five-game winning streak is the longest active tally in the NBA entering Thursday night play, as it currently boasts the only undefeated team in the new calendar year. In the three games since the first returns were released, Randle averaged 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, his recent efforts headlined by scoring 39 in last Saturday's win over Kuzma and the Wizards.
Randle's teammate Jalen Brunson remained stationed in sixth among Eastern guards with 759,640 votes. Group leaders remained unchanged, as Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) and LeBron James (LA Lakers) continue to lead all candidates as both the backcourt leaders in the respective conferences and the only players with at least 3 million votes. Luca Doncic (Dallas) and Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana) are the leaders among the guards.
Randle and Brunson's next chance to impress voters lands on Thursday night when they visit Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, MSG). Doncic will not play due to an ankle sprain.
