Los Angeles Lakers: Analysis of Julius Randle after two seasons in the NBA

Mar 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) reacts during overtime of a NBA game at the Staples Center. LA Lakers won 130-119. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) reacts during overtime of a NBA game at the Staples Center. LA Lakers won 130-119. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers
March 5, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) grabs a rebound in front of New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (33) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

– Rebounding

Julius Randle’s rebounding numbers dipped this year as he pulled down 8.6 rebounds a game this season, while averaging 10.2 in 2015-2016. One potential explanation for this slight decline may be due to the fact that Randle’s teammates are grabbing rebounds that would have otherwise fell to the 6’9″ power forward the year prior.

For example, this season the likes of Ivica Zubac and Timofey Mozgov each hovered around five rebounds per game, whereas in 2015-2016 the main competition for rebounds on his team was often Roy Hibbert, who averaged an underwhelming 3.2 per game, leaving more opportunity for Randle to rebound the basketball with less opposition.

Lastly, the 22-year-old has made his presence felt on the offensive glass as he averaged around two offensive rebounds per game the last two seasons. This lands him among the top 20 players in offensive rebounds in the 2016-2017 NBA season.