Both Randle and Jones had rocky inaugural seasons in New York in 2019. Randle averaged 19.5 points and 9.7 rebounds, but his Knicks team won just 21 games and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference. Conversely, Jones showed off his arm talent by throwing for 24 touchdowns, but also threw 12 interceptions, fumbled six times and won just three games as a starter.
Both were unfairly thrust into the lead role early in their tenures and tasked with the same mission: resurrect a dead New York franchise.
Randle did just that in 2020. The power forward blossomed into a star, averaging a career-high 24.1 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. Randle was selected to the 2021 NBA All-Star Team, leading the Knicks to a shocking 41-31 record and a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
New York’s buzz about basketball died down in early 2022. The Knicks struggled down the stretch and failed to miss the playoffs. Their star player got into multiple altercations with fans and even gave the fans a thumbs-down after being booed. Just six months after becoming the most popular athlete in New York, Randle was universally hated, and he became the subject of many trade rumors.
Jones’ turnover and injury issues continued to plague him, posting horrible 2020 and 2021 seasons, putting his future in New York in doubt, similar to his Knicks counterpart.
When the new regime took over the Giants this offseason, they quickly declined Jones’ fifth-year option, forcing the quarterback into a contract season. The writing was on the wall: One of the most hated quarterbacks in New York football history would be out after the 2022 season.
In an unlikely turn of events, Jones has blossomed into a quality NFL quarterback. Jones led his team to a roaring 7-2 start, a 9-6-1 record and the Giants’ first postseason berth since the 2015 season. Jones set career highs in passing attempts, completions, passing yards, average yards per pass completion, passer rating, QBR, rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, games played and fourth-quarter comebacks while simultaneously posting the fewest turnovers of any NFL starting quarterback.
Jones added another chapter to his legendary season in 2022 this past Sunday, as he led the Giants to a 31-24 playoff win against the Minnesota Vikings. According to NFL Research, Jones became the first quarterback in NFL History to post 300-plus passing yards, two passing touchdowns and 70-plus rushing yards in a playoff game.
Randle has followed Jones’ path from rags to riches in 2022. Randle has quickly become universally loved again, as he is on pace to set new career highs in rebounds and points. Randle’s Knicks are sixth in the Eastern Conference, and he will likely appear in the All-Star game for the second time this season. Randle has again gone from New York’s villain to New York’s superhero.
Playing professional sports in New York is grueling for a litany of reasons. Athletes who are vilified by the fans rarely survive New York, let alone blossom into stars. Randle and Jones have stunningly both done just that in 2022.
