NEW ORLEANS — Zion Williamson can take a page out of Julius Randle’s book of basketball development.
Randle and Williamson are tethered to one another for a number of reasons: The Pelicans traded former franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis to the Lakers in exchange for Randle and subsequently tanked to draft Williamson No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
At the same time, Randle spent one season in New Orleans then left and signed a free-agent contract with the Knicks — before fans immediately fired up the trade machine, campaigning for a trade that sent Randle back to New Orleans for Williamson.
Williamson reportedly wanted New York City’s bright lights, but the Knicks were drafting third and took his Duke teammate RJ Barrett.
“That’s my brother,” Barrett said of Williamson the night before tipoff against the Pelicans. “So anytime we get to play against him, I’m excited.”
There’s also the size and stature element.
Williamson is listed at 6-6, 280 pounds versus 6-8, 250 pounds for Randle. Both use their size and brute strength to finish at the rim. Defenders second-guess attempting to take charges when both go downhill.
Yet according to their respective head coaches, there’s a glaring difference that separates Randle, a three-time NBA All-Star, from Williamson, who has yet to scratch the surface of his potential while battling a flurry of injuries since being drafted in 2019.
“A little difference is the fact that Julius, he shoots threes,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said pregame at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday. “It’s something you can tell he’s been working on in his game. He’s elevated his game since he came in the NBA, became an All-Star. So he’s definitely developing more of an outside attack.”
Randle did not attempt more than one three-pointer per game in each of his first four NBA seasons. He began letting threes fly in his lone season in New Orleans, and since his arrival in New York, Randle is averaging 5.8 threes attempted per game and is converting at a 34% clip.
Last season, Randle averaged a career-high 8.3 attempts from downtown per game. Entering Saturday’s matchup against the Pelicans, he is shooting 40% on 7.5 three-pointers attempted per game.
Conversely, Williamson shoots 34% on fewer than one three-point attempt per game.
“Z is more inside,” Green added. “He’s more in the paint, he’s more in transition, he’s more in the post-up area.”
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau also noted some differences in the style of play of the two star forwards.
“Each player is different. They’re both very, very talented from that standpoint,” he said ahead of tipoff. Thibodeau said experience is a major factor in Randle’s ascent. “But there’s some comparisons in terms of style of play, downhill, attacking the rim. And Julius is further down the road because of the years he’s been in the league, and I think the thing that you respect about Julius is that every year he’s added a lot to his game.
“Julius never misses. I love that about him.”
Availability separates Randle from Williamson most.
Randle has appeared in 71 or more games in seven of his nine NBA seasons and has played in 80 or more games twice. Williamson has never played in more than 61 games, which he did once, missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a foot injury and has appeared in fewer than 30 games in two seasons outside of the one he sat all year.
While Williamson has the potential to be one of the all-time greats, he’ll have to put work in over an extended period of time to make up the ground Randle has created.
Kristian Winfield
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