Julius Randle impressed in his Brooklyn Nets debut on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, becoming the fifth player in team history to record a 20-5-5 stat line.
Randle joined Seth Curry (Feb. 14, 2022), James Harden (Jan. 16, 2021), Kyrie Irving (Oct. 23, 2019) and Orlando Woolridge (Oct. 31, 1986). He's in elite company with Harden and Irving, who were part of the most lethal trio with Kevin Durant in the early 2020s.
The 12-year veteran led all scorers with 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting, eight rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Charlotte's defenders struggled with Randle's physicality, as he shot 11 free throws.
His performance proves he can raise the team's floor, but the talent around him needs to come together. Michael Porter Jr. ended with 26 points and seven rebounds, the only other Net to score in double figures.
They've built strong chemistry in a few months since Brooklyn traded for the 6-foot-9 forward. Porter scored five of his points from two Randle assists.
Randle believed their games would complement each other. His statement holds strong after four games together.
He said he can do a lot with the ball, and Porter is a great catch-and-shoot shooter. The 6-foot-10 marksman shot 5-for-11 from three against the Hornets.
Randle is a solid passer, and he took that leap in his second season with the New York Knicks. In his first season (2019-20), he averaged 3.1 assists, then ballooned to a career-high six in the following season.
Since the 2020-21 season, the 12-year veteran has hovered around four or more assists. His passing, paired with his scoring ability in isolation, can make him difficult to guard, especially when shooters surround him.
While the veterans raised the team's floor, the youth didn't carry their weight. The Nets' young core combined for 37 points, with Noah Clowney leading with nine points on perfect shooting.
Brooklyn's youth is key to success. The team has several players on rookie-scale contracts, like Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr.
Brown made his rookie debut coming off the bench. Coach Jordi Fernández put the first-round pick on a 24-minute restriction after he nursed a left ankle sprain throughout preseason.
He scored six points on 2-for-8 shooting.
Brooklyn lost to a short-handed Charlotte squad missing Coby White and Kon Knueppel. Randle and Porter will face a tough challenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday at Rocket Arena.