NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle
played his first game in a Nets uniform on Tuesday, albeit in a preseason game that doesn't count towards the team's win total for this season. Brooklyn brought Randle in this offseason with the goal of improving an offense that was led by forward Michael Porter Jr. last season and he discussed what playing with the sharpshooter has been like thus far."It's honestly really easy, man. Playing with a player like him is easy [with] how well he just shoots the ball all over the floor," Randle said on Thursday prior to their preseason matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. If the Nets are going to "shock the world" like players like Randle have been suggesting, it would help if Randle and Porter are able
to get on the same page sooner than later.
"He moves well without the ball, and I try to make it easier for him with just my ability to create. So, it's really not hard playing with somebody like him. High IQ, great shot-maker, but it was smooth, I would say," Randle continued. "I think we can play really well off of each other. To be honest, I think we have an opportunity to play some really great basketball to really help each other out out there, make the game easier for each other."
Randle, 31, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 31.5% from behind the three-point line with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Randle's first preseason action with the Nets in Tuesday's 124-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets, he finished the contest with 13 points and three assists in just 18 minutes while Porter had 16 points and five rebounds.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez will be tasked with incorporating Randle into the offense while making sure that Porter still gets the appropriate amount of touches to make an impact. Randle and Porter have discussed what the early stages of building chemistry have looked like through training camp and the preseason and as of now, it seems like the process is going well so far.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Julius Randle discusses playing with Michael Porter Jr.
