Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle is preparing for his first season with the Nets after trying to win a championship with the Minnesota Timberwolves alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. Brooklyn traded for Randle this offseason in an effort to help forward Michael Porter Jr. run the offense and it seems like some around the league are high on what Randle could do this season.
"A more traditional power forward than a lot of the other players on this list, new Brooklyn Nets 4-man Julius Randle has fantastic strength for his position, often bullying smaller foes closer to the rim by burying his shoulder into their chests and powering through them," Frank Urbina wrote of Randle for HoopsHype. Randle should be able to get some easier looks
on the offensive end with Porter being ready to shoot from all over the three-point line.
"Last season, Randle was one of just nine players to put up a 21/6/5 stat line on a list riddled with superstars such as the player who finished No. 1 in this ranking, as well as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, among others," Urbina continued on Randle. "He may not be the best playoff performer historically, but he’s an impactful regular-season player of the All-Star tier thanks to his powerful scoring ability and underrated playmaking."
Randle, 31, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged a solid 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 in 79 games played. Randle, along with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (Joshua Jefferson), was sent to the Nets in exchange for the No. 33 pick.
Randle and head coach Jordi Fernandez seem to be on the same page when it comes to what the team is expecting from the versatile forward heading into his 13th NBA season. Randle will be asked to carry a significant portion of the offense alongside Porter and as this season approaches, others around the league seem to be expecting a standout campaign from the veteran.
Nets F Julius Randle is projected as the 11th-best PF heading into the 2026-27 NBA season. Per Frank Urbina:
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) September 14, 2026
"Last season, Randle was one of just nine players to put up a 21/6/5 stat line on a list riddled with superstars such as... Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, among others." https://t.co/UMYVdtu97v
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Julius Randle ranks as 11th-best PF ahead of 2026-27 NBA season
