NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle was the marquee player that the Nets acquired over the course of this past offseason as they were looking to improve from the previous campaign. Brooklyn was hoping that Randle would be able to effect the kind of change in the Nets that will allow the team to turn the corner and he evaluated his first game with his new team.
"I was able to find my spots in the flow and rhythm and offense, but honestly, I feel like I can get a lot better. There's a lot of areas for me to improve on, especially late in the game, some costly turnovers that I cannot have," Randle said after Wednesday's 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Brooklyn came into the season-opener with plenty of hype after players like Randle have asserted that the Nets would exceed expectations this year.
"I can find a way to help [Egor] and Keon and Noah, all those guys that we're going to need to make shots and plays. Noah was 3-for-3 from the floor, he has to get more looks or find him in transition," Randle continued. "So I got to help those guys out more and I'll look at the tape and figure out how I can be better. Naturally, I'll get my opportunities, coach will call my number."
Randle had the kind of performance that should give Nets fans some excitement for the rest of the season as he ended the game with 33 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in 38 minutes. From the beginning of the game, Randle made it clear that he will be imposing his will on both ends of the floor to make sure that Brooklyn wins as many games as possible.
"I'll get my opportunity so I'm not really worried about that, but how I can help everybody else be better, that's really going to be how we're going to win games," Randle said. The Nets faced a Hornets team that was missing some key pieces in Kon Knueppel and Coby White and while Brooklyn was hoping for a win to begin the season, there are still 81 games left for Randle and company to figure everything out.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Julius Randle evaluates debut in season-opening loss to Hornets