Julius Randle has had season-ending surgery in crushing the Knicks blowout

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By Peter Botte

Julius Randle did everything he could to return to the Knicks without surgery this offseason, but the All-Star power forward couldn't shake the desire to end the season.

Randle, who has not played since dislocating his right shoulder on Jan. 27, will undergo surgery and be re-evaluated in five months. Knicks announced before Thursday's game against the Kings.

Randle resumed exercise last month, but he waited weeks for medical clearance, which never came.

On February 21, Randle said he was feeling “better and stronger” with the goal of returning before the end of the season.

But within the same comments, the three-time All-Star acknowledged that surgery on his non-shooting shoulder is a possibility.

“We'll see. There are still steps that need to be taken. It's a process for everything. I have to finally weigh everything and decide from there,” Randle said. “But right now I'm just focused on trying to avoid [surgery]Frankly, come to court as soon as I can.

OG Anunoby also jan. From 27 was largely sidelined with a right elbow injury that required surgery.

The two-way division returned for three games in mid-March, but he missed his ninth game in a row Thursday against Sacramento.

Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Josh Hart (wrist) are listed as questionable for the Knicks, who began the day in the 5th playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Magic.

“I see this as the team we're going to be,” Hart said Sunday. “I think the way we should approach it is, those guys don't come back and we'll be pleasantly surprised if they come back.”

They are 15-14 in 29 games without Randle, who underwent ankle surgery last offseason after missing the final five games of the regular season and Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs against the Heat due to injury.

Randle, 29, has one guaranteed year remaining on his $27.6 million contract for next season and a player option worth $29.5 million in 2025-26.