What we can learn from Anthony Randolph's return
When Real Madrid registered Anthony Randolph for the active roster on the final day of the transfer deadline, it was little more than an insurance policy. After all, Randolph, 33, had been out all season after suffering a torn ACL in last season’s Spanish League finals. He was not yet ready for action and the team seemed pretty set in the frontcourt, with a number of big men at head coach Chus Mateo's disposal.
Randolph’s rehab continued to progress and he made his season debut on Sunday in a blowout win over Granada in the Spanish League, scoring 8 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in 18 minutes on the floor. But would he be in Coach Mateo's plans for the EuroLeague?
Sometimes, plans are made for you. When Vincent Poirier was taken to the hospital on Wednesday with appendicitis, the puzzle changed. Poirier underwent surgery and, after the game, Mateo still could not address when the French center might return. Replacing a player like Poirier, one of the most-productive second-string centers in the league, is no small feat at this point in the season.
And that’s where Randolph can separate Real from the pack. Now in his eighth EuroLeague season – and seventh with Real – Randolph brings the ideal mix of experience, a winning attitude and skill to the lineup. Thanks to the first two of those traits, he won't be difficult to plug into the rotation this late in the season, either.
Randolph's skills were on display in his short appearance against FC Bayern Munich on Thursday. He only played 7 minutes, in which he contributed 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal.
He came on late in the first quarter, but he made his impact in the second. Randolph first drilled a step-back three-pointer. He also showed that, while rusty, he still has the foot speed to switch on to smaller players on pick-and-roll defense. When he found a mismatch at the other end, Randolph was able to go inside and get a three-point play. Later, on defense, his positioning and quick hands created a steal that led to a Guerschon Yabusele slam.
The 79-67 win over Bayern will likely not have a major impact on Real's season, though it did keep it in the running for the top spot in the regular-season standings. But what we and Real learned is that Randolph still has what it takes to be an impact player in the EuroLeague, and with questions swirling around how soon Poirier might be able to return, having a former champion and past All-EuroLeague selection ready to step in is a blessing that other teams could only dream about.
Game Videos
- 00:59
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Devin Booker: 'Proud of my guys'
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FC Bayern Munich-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
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Booker throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
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Real Madrid-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:22
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Campazzo superlative pass for Ndiaye dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:16
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Facu Campazzo: 'Vinicius is awesome, he supports us'
- 00:15
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Great alley-oop dunk from Tavares! Motorola Magic Moment
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FC Bayern Munich-Paris Basketball | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:39
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Facu Campazzo: 'Everybody who played did something positive'
- 00:52
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Shabazz Napier: 'Every win is great for us'
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Real Madrid-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
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Campazzo delivers, Hezonja detonates! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
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Ibaka the shot blocker! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
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Booker's reverse alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
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Napier beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
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Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Real Madrid | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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Deck rises for a block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
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Tavares’ big block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 03:34
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Real Madrid-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 03:35
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
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What an assist from Campazzo! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Madar connects with Brankovic on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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Ibaka with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
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Booker dunks off a clever Napier pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 04:07
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FC Bayern Munich-Real Madrid | RS Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:54
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Shabazz Napier: 'It was just a great team win'
- 00:24
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Booker blasts off! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
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Rathan-Mayes from halfway! Motorola Magic Moment
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2023-24 EB ANGT Finals Berlin MVP Top 10 Plays: Hugo Gonzalez, U18 Real Madrid
- 04:22
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Real-Panathinaikos | Championship Game Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
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Rudy's steal and magic pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:34
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It all comes down to this… Real Madrid vs. Panathinaikos
- 02:24
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Coach Mateo on back-to-back titles: 'We want to do it'
- 01:08
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All angles of Chacho's magic assist to Musa
- 04:22
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Fabien Causeur, Real: 'In these games, you go all in'
- 04:08
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Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Semifinals Highights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 02:10
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Chus Mateo: 'This is an amazing moment for us'
- 00:49
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Dzanan Musa: 'Defense brought us to the final'
- 01:03
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Vincent Poirier: 'The goal is to control the paint'
- 00:14
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Chacho goes behind his back to seal the deal! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
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Poirier hammers it home! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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Chacho feeds Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 02:37
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Question Time - Dzanan Musa and Fabien Causeur, Real Madrid
- 04:24
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‘We have to focus on ourselves’: Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid
- 02:33
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Top 5 Plays | Real Madrid | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 02:16
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Record-setting Real Madrid’s road to Berlin
- 00:59
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Sergio Rodriguez, Real Madrid: 'The season starts with the playoffs'
- 00:33
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Dusko Ivanovic, Baskonia: 'Everybody fought for 40 minutes'
- 00:56
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Chus Mateo, Real Madrid: 'We believed until the end'
