Quotes from Julius Randle

Anyone who loves the game is going to be sensitive about their craft.

I'm damn proud to be a Knick.

Kobe was my favorite player from just the way he went about competition. He was so skilled, but his mindset and his approach were really what I took away from him more than anything. How tactical, passionate and detailed he is about the game - he really loved the game.

I care about my teammates.

You don't go into a game expecting to lose.

Thibs is a guy that... just expects a certain level of professionalism, he expects you to do things the right way, be prepared and do things the right way on a day-to-day basis, and if you don't want to do that, then it's gonna be tough.

I'm protective kind of aggressive, a caring personality. I guess it's just kind of who I am naturally, once I get to really know somebody.

On game days, I like a huge breakfast. It'll be some eggs, preferably an omelet, some protein. It has to be a huge.

If you look at every star in the game, everyone has tendencies.

I'll be able to play all over the floor.

Honestly, I hated Dirk growing up. As I got older and wiser, obviously I was really able to appreciate his greatness as I learned the game of basketball.

I wanted to be a Knick, I wanted to be one of the greats here.

You know the Knicks, they weren't a good team, obviously, when I got here and I just kinda wanted to be a part of rebuilding, establishing the culture here.

When I realized I was having a baby boy, I wanted him to know that I'm there in his life: 'Dad loves him. Dad's always going to support him and be there for him.' I don't want him to have to worry about anything.

Highs and lows of life happens for a reason.

I worked on my playmaking and versatility, so that I could play more minutes at more spots on the court - power forward, point forward, center, whatever it takes.

It's easy to grab a coffee to start the day, put a bunch of cream and sugar in there, but that's probably not the best type of energy boost that you want to begin a workout.

Everybody can't come to New York and take the hits, take the hits of the city, take the hits of the media, take the hits of the fans. It's real.

As far as most improved, I don't take it as a backhanded compliment at all. That's what you're supposed to do as a professional.

For me, it's about getting better from game to game, improving as a player.

I don't care what anyone says - there's no tougher place to play than New York with the media and the fans who know and love the game. It's a tough place to play.

I know you only get one chance to make a first impression in a city - and I was so disappointed in myself for how that first season in New York had gone. It felt like a blown opportunity. It felt like I'd cemented my reputation in the opposite way that I'd wanted to. Selfish. Not a leader. Not a winning player.

For me, as someone who takes the game seriously, really loves the game of basketball, just looking at the trajectory of my career and every year I've done something to improve.

It was just my mom, my sister and me. And from a young age, my mom always said I was like the man of the house. I really became the man of the house. And I really took that responsibility very seriously: being the man of the house, the protector.