New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle is looking forward to Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets.
In fact, ahead of the 7:30 p.m. tip-off between the Knicks (7-24) and the Nets (16-13), Randle feels at home with Barclays Center.
While the Knicks fell 113-109 in Oct. 25's trip to Brooklyn, it might as well have been played at Madison Square Garden for Randle.
"The game is fun," Randle said of the Knicks' crosstown rivalry with the Nets, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. "The game we played there, it was amazing. I can sense the rivalry there.
"There were a lot of Knicks fans. It was almost like a home game for us. It was fun."
In his first year with the Knicks, who signed him to a three-year contract worth $62.1 million, Randle joined New York after he played for the Los Angeles Lakers (2014-18) and New Orleans Pelicans (2018-19) over the initial five NBA seasons.
With the Lakers, who selected him at No. 5 overall in the 2014 NBA draft -- also at Barclays Center -- Randle received firsthand experience in an intercity rivalry against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Two games in -- the Knicks also fell 103-101 at MSG on Nov. 24 -- Randle indicated that the energy is different in New York's rivalry, regardless of records.
"With the Lakers, it was also fun," Randle said. "A little in-town rivalry. But it was just New Yorkers who love basketball. It was just a fun environment to play in. ... I think New York loves basketball."