Julius Randle talks Kobe Bryant, Skechers on "The Tonight Show"

Julius Randle is about to embark on his tenth season in the NBA, his fifth with the New York Knicks. Last night, the two-time NBA All-Star went on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to talk some hoops and his new partnership with Skechers.

Yes, you read that correctly. Randle signed an endorsement deal with Skechers and will wear their new basketball shoes in games this season. He actually brought a signed pair to The Tonight Show for Fallon. As you can see below, they’re a little different than the Skechers you’re used to seeing at the mall:

Randle didn’t just talk shoes with Fallon. The talk show host broke the ice by asking about Randle’s six-year-old son Kyden, who has become a celebrity in his own right in recent years for his viral reactions to his dad’s performance on the court. Randle, who grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant, also told a story about playing with Kobe in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and how the late great taught him the Mamba mentality. Check out the complete interview below.

That wasn’t the last we saw of Randle last night. He made an appearance during “Tariq’s Cat Corner” with Fallon and Tariq Trotter to perform a cover of James Ingram’s “Just Once” while wearing a curly wig. I’d like to think he was thinking of his Kentucky Wildcats while singing along to the montage of cats.

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Knicks, Immanuel Quickley don’t reach rookie extension

In other Kentucky Wildcats turned New York Knicks news, the Knicks and Immanuel Quickley did not reach an extension on his rookie deal by last night’s deadline, meaning he will become a restricted free agent next summer. Last season, Quickley was the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award. In his third season in the league, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 28.9 minutes per game off the bench. Now, his name will likely come up in any of the big trade talks circling around the club this season.

In better Kentucky/Knicks news, Jacob Toppin had his contract converted to a two-way deal over the weekend. Toppin, whose brother Obi is a star for the Knicks, signed a deal with the team after going undrafted in June. He appeared in one preseason game, scoring four points in 10 minutes against the Celtics.

The Knicks tip the season off tomorrow night