DALLAS — Another day, another dollar. Another year, another season without an NBA title for the New York Knicks. It all came to an abrupt ending after a first round playoff exit against the Atlanta Hawks. But the silver lining is this: the Knicks made the playoffs. Yes, the same team that won just 21 games a year ago, finished the regular season 41-31 to earn a No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

What You Need To Know

  • Dallas native and NBA’s Most Improved Player Julius Randle led the Knicks to the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-2013 season

  • Chris Mayberry, Randle’s high school coach, is still very much in touch with his former star player. The two text each other before and after games

  • Randle led New York in points per game (24.1), rebounds per game (10.2), and assists per game (6)

“It’s really tough to even process [the loss] right now. But we’ll be back,” said Knicks power forward and Dallas native Julius Randle.

New York hadn’t clinched a playoff berth in nearly a decade. So the remarkable turnaround was thanks in large part to Tom Thibodeua, who was named NBA’s Coach of the Year on Monday. The Knicks success on the court also stemmed from the play of seven-year veteran Julius Randle. 

“I’m just happy for him because I know in the NBA, so many times these guys are winners their entire life and then they get to the pros and they’re on a losing team,” said Randle’s Prestonwood High School coach Chris Mayberry.

Mayberry, who now coaches high school basketball in Orlando, Florida, is a man who is still very much in touch with his former star player. Randle received the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, which was a surprise to some. But not to Mayberry.

“I could not be happier for Julius because I knew as soon as COVID hit last year, he was on a mission,” said Mayberry. “It seemed like he was always in the gym and always putting in the work.”

The work he put into the tank paid dividends on the court. This season he led the Knicks in points per game (24.1), rebounds per game (10.2) and assists per game (6). Career highs in all those categories. 

“I’m going to have to be better. Everyone is going to have to be better if we want to accomplish what we want to accomplish,” Randle said. “So I’m looking forward to that as a competitor. It’s going to bring the best out of us."

In addition to his grind, Randle also cherishes the relationships he’s built over the years.

“I just remember with my own personal kids, he was so good to them,” Mayberry recalled. “My little son who was real young at that time is still a huge Julius fan because he remembers little snippets of him being real kind. My son also has Julius’ jersey and wears it every game day.”

The Mayberry’s are lifelong supporters of the New York star with Texas roots.

“I think the best is yet to come for him. He is going to have a chance to be an All-Star for a long time,” Mayberry said. “There is no bigger fan of Julius than I am because I had the chance to spend a couple years with him and I saw the future before it happened. It’s been fun to watch his development grow as a coach."