Julius Randle is setting high expectations for the Brooklyn Nets despite joining a team coming off a difficult season.
Randle previously told rookie Mikel Brown Jr. that Brooklyn plans to “shock the world,” and he doubled down on that message Saturday.
“Exactly that,” Randle said Saturday when asked what he meant.
The Nets finished last season 20-62, while BetMGM has set their win total at 24.5. Brooklyn also has several young first-round picks trying to develop together as the organization moves forward with its rebuild.
Randle believes the Nets can outperform those expectations.
“Whatever your expectations are, whatever expectations that are put upon us, we’re gonna exceed them and we’re gonna do things at a very high level,” Randle said Saturday at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center while hosting a back-to-school basketball clinic for 80 kids. “We’re gonna build, come in with the right habits every single day, and we’re gonna do exactly that.”
The 31-year-old is back in New York after five seasons with the Knicks and two with Minnesota. He averaged 21.1 points per game last season and is expected to become one of Brooklyn’s primary offensive options alongside Michael Porter Jr.
“It’s definitely a place that just feels like home,” Randle said, “and I’m happy to be back here.”
Randle is particularly excited about playing with Porter, believing his shooting and floor spacing will complement his own offensive game.
“I told him that like players like him, I love playing with because of how well he can space the floor,” Randle said of Porter. “He loves big shots, big moments, and, like, they always seem to know exactly like where to be. He does it at an extremely high level, so I’m excited.”
Randle has a player option after this season, but his immediate focus is on helping Brooklyn improve rather than thinking about his longer-term future.
His return to New York has also brought changes off the court, including moving into a new home and his children beginning another school year.
“That’ll definitely wake you up a little bit,” Randle said.
Despite his familiarity with the city, joining the Nets has given Randle the feeling of starting over.
“It was like, actually, kinda refreshing because it was like I lived here for five years but it felt like a fresh start,” Randle said. “And I was kinda like a newbie again.”
