Timberwolves forward Julius Randle made his anticipated return to Madison Square Garden on Friday and reflected on his impactful five-year tenure with the Knicks.

Randle believed in the Knicks and their potential when almost no one else in the NBA did. When Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and almost every other free agent took a hard pass on the Knicks, Randle risked coming to a franchise that had just finished a 17-65 season and had gone six straight years without making the playoffs.

Exactly a year prior to his long-awaited MSG return, the highest mark of Julius Randle’s tenure was taking shape.