To anyone who is already attaching a "fluke" label to Julius Randle, the NBA's Most Improved Player wants you to get educated.
"I think people who say that really just don't know s--t about me," Randle said when speaking to reporters on Friday. "If you've watched my career and watched me play every year, I've gotten better, so that just speaks to my mindset and who I am as a player. If you think that, have fun with that take."
The Knicks certainly don't share that take, officially announcing the All-Star's four-year extension Friday morning, locking up the face of New York's stunning resurgence last season, which led to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and the franchise's first playoff appearance in eight years.
Now, the Knicks have locked up Randle through his prime, and he hopes to be the face of the franchise's next hopeful step: becoming a title contender.
"When I signed here two years ago, this was my vision, to be able to lock in something long-term and be able to build something from the ground up," Randle said. "For me, it was kind of a no-brainer. It was a security, but for me, I truly enjoy being a Knick at the end of the day. I don't think there's a better place to win a championship than here, and I want to be a part of that."
By signing on for another four years following the conclusion of this coming season, Randle has committed to the franchise he wanted to be a part of long-term when he initially signed two years ago, when he labored through a frustrating debut season before breaking out to average a career-high 24.1 points and 6.0 assist per game.
"I think the biggest thing was the culture," Randle said. "That was part of the reason why I took the deal was the culture…We're all a family, we enjoy being around each other, and we have that trust. Even if I left money on the table, I trust that in the long run it's gonna pay off.
"I don't know if I could make that commitment anywhere else. It really speaks to the culture we have here, me being able to trust the guys that are helping us and working to get us the best possible team."
The Knicks made some upgrades around Randle this offseason, adding Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to the starting five, but the team will certainly need to bring in higher-profile stars to compete with the best in the league. If Randle can help recruit in any way, he's willing to do what it takes to finally make New York a championship city again.
"I've told them if they need me to help, I would definitely get involved and I would have no problem helping at all," Randle said. "At the end of the day, winning is all that matters in the grand scheme of things. My number one goal is to win a championship in New York…If they need me to help get players, I'm 100 percent confident in doing that."
Randle's ascent from maligned free agent signing to fan-favorite in New York was a remarkable change in narrative over the course of just one season, and now, he will look to change his label from a breakout performer to an established All-Star. Most importantly for him, it will continue with him in orange and blue.
"It feels amazing," Randle said. "It feels really good to know I'll be here for a while and have the opportunity for years to put on that Knicks jersey."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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