Why did Julius Randle revert last season from Second Team All-NBA to a non-winning player with good, somewhat empty statistics (20.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists per game)? There’s a list of theories.

Randle may have received mixed messages from Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff, with a finger pointed toward former assistant coach Kenny Payne.

According to a source, Payne pumped up Randle’s confidence in a way that was counter to Thibodeau’s messages. While Thibodeau attempted to get Randle to become more of a selfless player, there’s a feeling Payne fed Randle’s ego, telling him he was still “the man’’ while RJ Barrett was emerging.

It was well-documented how Randle — who received a series of NBA fines for his behavior on the court — was in the wrong place mentally in 2021-22. Knicks team president Leon Rose said on MSG Network in April that Randle was “just not comfortable.’’