It’s been a full-circle journey for Chasson Randle this season.
First, he tore up the summer league in Las Vegas for the Knicks. Next, he dominated the D-League in Westchester before being picked up by the Sixers on multiple 10-day contracts while living in a hotel room. Then, just as he moved into an apartment in New Jersey, the Sixers waived him, opening up a chance for a reunion with the Knicks.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Randle said after the Knicks signed him to a contract Monday afternoon. “I was in Philadelphia and I drove up last night. Things kind of just came quickly and I’m excited to be here.”
A roster spot opened up after the Knicks waived veteran point guard Brandon Jennings earlier in the day, and they are hoping Randle can repeat his D-League playmaking prowess at his new address.
“Chasson has a good feel for the game,” coach Jeff Hornacek said. “He knows where shots come, and where guys need to get the ball in the offense. He’s more of a playmaker who can score. Ron [Baker] will probably get the first shots [as backup point guard], but we want to get Chasson in there when we can.”
Randle had been in the mix for the last spot on the Knicks’ roster during training camp, but ultimately lost the third point-guard role to Baker, the former Wichita State guard. However, Randle’s numbers in the D-League proved his summer league success was no fluke.
The two-time PAC-12 first-team member out of Stanford averaged 20.4 points on 42.2 percent shooting over 20 games, surpassing the 20-point plateau eight times including a season-high 38-point effort Dec. 16.
However, it’s his familiarity with the triangle offense, which he ran while running the point at Stanford under Johnny Dawkins and in Westchester, that made his signing a no-brainer for the Knicks.
“The triangle itself is just a name. Some of the actions you get out of the triangle, you see in other offenses,” Randle said. “Two-man game where you get a triangle on the side. Cut off the post, things like that. I think there are similarities with other systems.”
Randle, Stanford’s all-time leading scorer, has 23 games to showcase himself for this season and possibly next.
Although sources have indicated Randle’s deal is partially guaranteed for next season, Randle said he knows his journey could come to an end at a moment’s notice.
“To be honest, I’m going to take it one day at a time,” he said. “In this game, nothing is promised. You need to take advantage of every single day.”
If he does, the Knicks could have found themselves the perfect offensive fit.
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