Julius Randle Vows Nets Will 'Shock the World' — What It Means for Your Roster

Julius Randle isn't waiting for the season to start his campaign. The 31-year-old forward, acquired by Brooklyn back in June, told reporters this weekend that the Nets plan to exceed whatever expectations get piled on them — a promise he'd already relayed to rookie Mikel Brown Jr. as a blunt vow to "shock the world." For a team most people are penciling in near the bottom of the East, that's a big check to write.

The production backs up at least part of the swagger. Randle averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists across 79 games in 2025-26, playing 33 minutes a night. That translated to 37.8 fantasy points per game, good for our #44 overall rank and #16 at his position. He's not the ceiling star he once was in New York, but he's a legitimately useful fantasy asset walking into a situation with wide-open touches.

Randle spent the summer working out in Texas with Brown, Egor Dëmin and Josha Jefferson, getting an early read on the young core before camp opens. He praised their work rate and basketball IQ, and joked about a golf outing that ended with a shirtless warning on the third hole. Half of Brooklyn's roster — eight players — is 23 or younger, and Randle has clearly leaned into the elder-statesman role before ever suiting up.

The Fantasy Fallout

Here's why the vibes matter to your draft. On a young, rebuilding roster, Randle projects to be a primary offensive hub — high usage, plenty of assists as a facilitating forward, and the kind of stable minutes that fantasy managers crave. The only real competition for touches is Michael Porter Jr., who posted 24.2 points and 39.1 fantasy points per game across 52 games in 2025-26 (our #38 overall, #14 at position). Randle himself flagged MPJ's floor-spacing as a fit, so their games should complement rather than cannibalize.

The form signals are quiet, not alarming. Randle's last five games of 2025-26 came in 2.7 fantasy points below his season average, while Porter's dipped 1.6 below his. Nothing there suggests decline — just normal end-of-season noise for two players who logged real workloads.

For fantasy purposes, Randle is a buy low. The 'shock the world' narrative won't move draft boards, which means you can grab a top-45 producer at a discount because nobody believes in the team around him. His role is safe, his usage should be heavy, and floor plus opportunity is exactly what you want from a mid-round forward. Draft him with confidence and let the doubters keep doubting.