Experienced Julius Randle welcoming leadership role with young Nets team

LAS VEGAS — Julius Randle sees the similarity between joining these rebuilding Nets and when he first helped guide the Knicks from the lottery to the playoffs.But this time he says he’s a better leader.And a better player.

And better equipped to help this young team make that climb.“There’s definitely similarities for sure,” said Randle, 31.“Each [situation] is different.

It has its own different challenges.I’m definitely ready to step up to this one.

This will be exciting.But it’s definitely similar.“And for me, I have a lot more experience now than I did when I was that player.

So I feel like from a leadership standpoint, I can help a lot more, just being through it and having that experience.”The four-team trade that brought Randle — along with rookie Joshua Jefferson — became official on Friday.The four-time All-Star was dealt from a contending Minnesota squad to a Brooklyn bunch coming off two straight tanking seasons.

Without control of their own pick, the Nets don’t intend for a third.That’s why they added a floor-raiser like Randle, who has a $35.8 million player option for next season.“They’re really excited to have me here.

Jordi [Fernandez] is really excited.He feels like going into every game, we’ve got a chance to win every single game,” Randle said.

“To have that confidence from your coach is amazing.… I get to come in and be a leader, show guys how to be a pro.“We’re coming in trying to win.

It’s as simple as that.However we can help give the younger guys experience and confidence and help them fast-track or whatever it is to contribute to winning basketball, that’s really all that matters.

All I care about, at the end of the day, is winning, and I know that’s what those guys care about.If I can help give them that experience, great.”Randle had less experience when he first came to New York in 2019-20, joining a Knicks team that was coming off a sorry 17-65 season.Two years later they were ...