Lakers: Comparing each young star to recent NBA All-Stars

Julius Randle — Zach Randolph (2x all-star)

You know, prior to Julius Randle’s recent success I was not sure if he was ever going to be all-star caliber. Randle is without a doubt a very solid player and is a big component towards the Lakers’ success this season. However, entering the year, I was not sold that Randle could be anything more than a solid role player in his NBA career.

However, Randle has proven me wrong with increased minutes on the Lakers and has cemented the idea that he could be an all-star as early as next season. Since the all-star break, Randle is averaging 21.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. This is coming with a lot of time at center, too. Randle is only six-foot-nine.

Randle compares perfectly to another six-foot-nine big man, Zach Randolph. The 17-year veteran was great in his prime and, like Randle, was able to play both center and power forward despite his size. Randolph did not buy into the stretch four craze that swept the NBA and continued to play a menacing style of basketball that produced results.

In his prime, Randolph was averaging slightly over 20 points and as many as 12 rebounds per game. Randolph did creep up around two threes attempted per game, something that is yet to translate in Randle’s game.

However, Randolph’s shooting has, on average, been 8.5 feet from the rim. Randle’s shot is a bit shorter, 6.3 feet from the rim.

Julius Randle perfectly embodies what Zach Randolph has been his entire career; an underrated big man who probably deserved far more all-star appearances than he was granted.