NICKNAME/S: Handle, Handle Randle

BIO: Jerome Randle was born in Chicago, Illinois (USA) and attended Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, Illinois. In 2005, he won a pair of championships after guiding his high school team to a 27–4 record, and the Illinois state title and helping his Chicago Ferrari team to the 17-and-under AAU national crown, earning tournament MVP honours after scoring 44 points in one tournament game. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 assists per game as a junior before increasing those averages to 25 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals as senior in earning state Class A Player of the Year honours from the Chicago Sun-Times.

FAMILY: Randle’s younger brother, Jamie Adams, is also a professional basketball player.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jerome Randle made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 28 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.

Jerome Randle caught the attention of several NBL teams during an Australian tour with the Harlem Globetrotters, and when Adelaide 36ers guard Kenyon McNeail left mid-season due to a shoulder injury, the 36ers signed Randle as his replacement.

Randle, who, after being viewed as ‘too small’ to make the NBA, had spent the past five seasons in Europe and, in his own words began to ‘fall out of love’ with basketball. Randle told media that during his first under Wright, who was never known for holding back, didn’t like what he was seeing from his new star, so he called him out by saying, ‘If you don’t play your game, then you’re gonna f***in’ sit on the bench!’. That unexpected outburst struck a chord with Randle, with the Chicago-born kid thinking, ‘Damn, I’m at home now’. It was a sentiment Randle hadn’t had since leaving Chicago, and it made him proud to play basketball for the first time, in a long time.

Randle quickly became the 36ers’ leading scorer, posting 30 points or more in four games, including a standout 40-point performance against the Perth Wildcats on November 5. He finished the season averaging 23.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, taking over as the Sixers’ leading scorer and finishing as the league’s leading scorer, becoming the first Adelaide player to achieve this feat.

Randle finished the year as the league’s leading scorer, becoming the first Adelaide player to do so. He also and earned the inaugural NBL Australia Post Fan’s MVP. Despite Randle’s great individual season, the 36ers failed to make the playoffs, finishing in fifth place (14-14).

Additionally, Randle was named to the All-NBL First Team, and teammate Daniel Johnson to the All-NBL second team at seasons end, further highlighting the 36ers’ talent.

2016/17
During the 2016 NBL off-season, the Adelaide 36ers retained Jerome Randle while adding Anthony Drmic, Majok Deng, Eric Jacobsen, and 18-year-old NBA Draft prospect Terrance Ferguson, whose decision to play professionally in the NBL instead of college basketball helped shape the league’s future Next Stars Program.

Most experts predicted the youthful and relatively inexperienced 36ers to finish last, but early injuries to Mitch Creek (ankle) and Daniel Johnson (hamstring) contributed to a 3–6 start, including an 87–105 loss to Brisbane in Round 7 that dropped them to last place before a 101–83 win over Brisbane sparked an eight-game winning streak.

By Round 11, Adelaide had climbed from last to first, and by Round 16 they had won 14 of their previous 15 games to secure top spot with three rounds remaining, ultimately finishing as minor premiers with a 17–11 record despite losing their final four games, still ending two games clear of the competition.

With Creek and Johnson back, Adelaide surged behind Randle’s MVP form, as he averaged 21.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists to lead the team in scoring and win the NBL Most Valuable Player award, becoming just the second 36ers player after Mark Davis in 1987 to claim the honour, while Daniel Johnson averaged 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds to lead the team on the boards and Nathan Sobey earned Most Improved Player after lifting his averages to 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.

In the semifinals, Adelaide defeated Illawarra 93–78 in Game 1 behind Randle’s 26 points and 4 assists, but Illawarra responded with wins of 100–94 and 106–98 in Games 2 and 3 to eliminate the 36ers and end their season.

SYDNEY KINGS
2017/18
Jerome Randle began the 2017/18 season in Europe, signing with Turkish team Bahçeşehir after negotiations with Adelaide 36ers stalled, with his reported $300k salary request exceeding NBL budgets, before returning to Australia after a month due to delayed payments and ultimately signing with the Sydney Kings as a replacement for Travis Leslie after Adelaide’s roster had been finalised.

With Sydney sitting at 2–6 and bottom of the ladder, the Kings signed former MVP Randle to lead the point guard role, while also adding Jeremy Tyler and releasing Perry Ellis in a push for the playoffs, though Tyler was released within two months and the team shifted reliance to young frontcourt players Isaac Humphries and Dane Pineau.

The Kings lost 16 of their first 21 games amid a calf injury to Kevin Lisch, but his return alongside Randle helped spark a late run of six wins in the final seven games, although Sydney still finished seventh with an 11–17 record.

Randle delivered a standout individual season, becoming the first player since Andrew Gaze in 1989 to lead the league in both scoring (19.8 points per game) and assists (5.3 per game), earning All-NBL Second Team honours while remaining Sydney’s primary offensive threat.

Isaac Humphries contributed 6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and was named NBL Rookie of the Year, while Randle’s performances were not enough to lift the Kings into the playoffs despite their late-season surge.

Randle returned to Sydney for the 2018/19 NBL season, where a glute injury limited his production to 17.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, though he still earned All-NBL Second Team honours as the Kings finished third before being eliminated in the semi-finals by Melbourne United.

2018/19
Sydney entered the season looking to rebound from an 11-17 finish in 2017/18, which left the Kings seventh and outside the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season despite winning six of their final seven games. Andrew Gaze returned for a third season as coach, while Perry Ellis (to Cantù), Jason Cadee (to Brisbane), Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and Tom Garlepp (retired) departed, with Isaac Humphries having left late in the previous season (to FMP Beograd). The Kings rebuilt around returning captain Kevin Lisch and Brad Newley, adding NBA champion Andrew Bogut, Daniel Kickert (via Brisbane), David Wear (via Osaka Evessa), Deng Deng (via McKinnon), Kyle Adnam (via Melbourne) and Tom Wilson (via Melbourne). Sydney also became the first NBL team to utilise the league’s Next Stars program by signing highly-rated prospect Brian Bowen.

On March 29, Sydney exercised the team option on its star point guard’s contract to secure him for another season. “I’m very excited to be back with the Kings for another season,” he said, with the strong finish to the previous campaign leaving the group feeling it had unfinished business entering 2018/19.

Sydney travelled to Hawaii to face the Los Angeles Clippers during the NBLxNBA series, where he led all scorers with 25 points as the Kings were beaten 110-91.

The regular season began against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on October 13, where Randle (28 points and 7 assists) produced the performance identified as his best all-around game of the season, but Sydney was beaten 94-83. Kickert (14 points) and Bowen (13 points) provided support, while Daniel Johnson (22 points and 10 rebounds) and Nathan Sobey (21 points) led Adelaide.

Randle (17.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 29 games) remained Sydney’s leading scorer and primary perimeter creator, although all three averages were his lowest during his NBL career to that point. He also dealt with injury throughout the season. Early in the campaign, an elbow to the head left him suffering concussion symptoms and headaches, forcing him out of on-court training during the following week, although he recovered without missing a game. Later, a lingering glute injury restricted his explosiveness and became increasingly troublesome late in the season.

His best scoring performance came against Melbourne on November 24, where Randle (35 points) made five three-pointers, scored 15 points in the opening quarter without missing a shot and had 23 by halftime as Sydney came from behind before losing 84-82 at Melbourne Arena. Bowen (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Lisch (13 points and 4 assists) helped the Kings erase a late deficit, but a tip-in with 2.4 seconds remaining gave United the win, with Casper Ware (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Josh Boone (16 points and 10 rebounds) leading Melbourne.

One of Sydney’s most important wins came against Brisbane on February 3, when Randle (26 points and 2 steals) led a 107-91 victory at Qudos Bank Arena that secured the Kings’ first finals appearance since 2013. Lisch (21 points, 3 assists, and 5 steals) and Bogut (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Sydney produce a season-high 34 points in the opening quarter, while Lamar Patterson (27 points and 6 rebounds) led Brisbane.

The Kings added Ray Turner (via Bendigo) for the remainder of the season in January to provide further frontcourt depth. Bogut (11.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks) became the centrepiece of the defence, while Lisch (14.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals), Newley (10.8 points and 4.6 rebounds), Kickert (9.4 points), Wear (6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds), Adnam (6.7 points) and Bowen (6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds) gave Sydney one of the league’s deepest rotations. The Kings remained in contention for top spot late in the season before entering the final round fighting for home-court advantage.

Randle’s glute injury forced him to miss his only game of the season when Sydney hosted Cairns on February 16. Without him, Newley (19 points and 6 rebounds), Lisch (18 points and 5 assists) and Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) led an 89-84 win, while Melo Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) paced Cairns. Randle remained in considerable pain and used the break before the playoffs to rehabilitate, while the victory completed an 18-10 regular season that ultimately left Sydney third on the ladder.

Despite the injury reducing his production, Randle remained one of the league’s leading guards and was selected to the All-NBL Second Team for a second consecutive season. Bogut was awarded the Andrew Gaze Trophy as league MVP, was named Best Defensive Player and earned All-NBL First Team honours. Before the playoffs began, it was also confirmed that Gaze would leave the Kings at the completion of the season.

The glute injury continued to hamper Randle entering the semifinals, having kept him out of most training for two and a half weeks before he managed only a couple of practice sessions ahead of game one against defending champion Melbourne. Randle (13 points) joined Newley (17 points) and Lisch (13 points) as Sydney’s leading scorers, but United controlled the opener at Melbourne Arena and won 95-73 behind Ware (22 points and 7 assists) and DJ Kennedy (20 points and 6 rebounds).

Game two moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Randle (2 points and 5 assists) endured his toughest game of the season, making only 1-of-15 field goals as Melbourne completed the sweep with a 90-76 victory in front of 14,569 fans. Lisch (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Adnam (13 points) and Bogut (10 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) led Sydney, while Ware (30 points and 5 rebounds) and Chris Goulding (23 points) led Melbourne.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2019/20
After losses to Melbourne and Perth in their final two games left Adelaide 14-14 and fifth the previous season, tied with Brisbane but outside the playoffs on percentage, the 36ers reshaped their roster. Nathan Sobey (to Brisbane), Majok Deng (to Cairns), Demitrius Conger (to Real Betis), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney) and Jacob Wiley (to Gran Canaria) departed, while Joey Wright added Eric Griffin (via Ironi Nahariya), Kevin White (via Illawarra), Daniel Dillon (via Paris Basketball), Obi Kyei (via Spain), Alex Mudronja (via Saint Mary’s) and Deshon Taylor (via Fresno State) alongside returning players Daniel Johnson, Anthony Drmic, Ramone Moore, Harry Froling, Jack McVeigh and Brendan Teys.

After Sydney elected to move on from Randle and sign Casper Ware, Jerome Randle (via Sydney) reunited with Wright and Adelaide on a two-year deal on October 2, replacing Taylor before the regular season. Randle later revealed the move came together within three hours of Wright calling him while he was working out in the US.

“It’s with excitement I welcome Jerome back to lead this already star-studded group. After such a great response to our first pre-season game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, we wanted to reward the fans with the return of one of the biggest fan favourites in recent history. Jerome will replace Deshon Taylor who played exactly as we thought he would, just an opportunity came along to sign a fan favourite,” said Wright.

Days after signing, Randle joined Adelaide in Utah for its NBLxNBA game against the Jazz, leading the 36ers with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in a 133-81 loss. Game highlights

Adelaide opened its season against Randle’s former team Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on October 12, where Randle (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Johnson (26 points and 7 rebounds) led the 36ers, while Drmic (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) provided support. Newley (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Sydney to a 102-80 win.

Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 28 games) again became Adelaide’s leading scorer and primary playmaker, improving on the 17.9 points he averaged during an injury-affected final season in Sydney, although his production remained below his first stint with the 36ers. After battling a lingering glute injury the previous season, Randle appeared in all 28 games for Adelaide and did not miss a game through injury. The 36ers responded to their opening loss by winning three straight games to improve to 3-1 before four consecutive defeats dropped them to 3-5.

Randle helped end that losing streak against South East Melbourne at Melbourne Arena on November 18, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and making five three-pointers on his way to 27 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Drmic (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Griffin (17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) provided support as Adelaide led throughout and defeated the Phoenix 103-91, while Creek (22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led South East Melbourne.

With Adelaide attempting to remain in the playoff race, Randle delivered another strong performance against Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 11. Randle (23 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Griffin (21 points and 11 rebounds) and Johnson (19 points and 7 rebounds) led Adelaide to a 100-86 victory, while Goulding (26 points) led Melbourne. The win came in front of 9,034 fans, the largest crowd to attend an NBL game in Adelaide, and improved the 36ers to 11-11, level on wins with fourth-placed Melbourne with six games remaining.

Randle’s best game of the season came against South East Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 2, where he scored 20 points in the first half and finished with a season-high 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists on 14-of-24 shooting. The Phoenix recovered from 17 points down to take the lead during the fourth quarter, but Randle scored 11 points and added two assists over the final six minutes as Adelaide regained control. Johnson (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Griffin (13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) provided support, while Creek (27 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) led South East Melbourne as Adelaide won 100-93. Randle was hindered by a groin complaint late in the game but remained on court to help close out the victory and did not miss either of Adelaide’s remaining games.

Johnson (18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds), Griffin (14 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Drmic (10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds), Moore (7.8 points), Froling (7.3 points and 3.5 rebounds), McVeigh (6 points) and Teys (5.2 points) were Adelaide’s other major contributors. After reaching 11-11, the 36ers lost five of their final six games to fall out of the playoff race, with Moore missing the final seven games because of a shoulder injury.

Adelaide later opted out of the second year of Randle’s contract, ending his return to the club after one season. Randle (to Fuenlabrada) signed in Spain following the NBL season but tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during his debut after recording 7 points and 3 assists in 12 minutes, an injury which occurred after his Adelaide season and therefore did not cause him to miss any NBL games.

Already out of playoff contention, Adelaide finished its season against Perth at RAC Arena on February 15 in Wright’s 500th NBL game as a head coach. Randle (7 points) played 18 minutes, while Johnson (18 points and 11 rebounds) and McVeigh (16 points and 6 rebounds) led Adelaide and Kay (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth to a 94-79 win as the 36ers finished seventh with a 12-16 record.

Jerome Randle played five seasons in the NBL. He averaged 20.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 126 NBL games.