Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle figured out how he could best fit in with his new team and their superstar while watching from the bench in street clothes this season.
Although it didn’t happen overnight, Randle is now the force the Timberwolves had been hoping for when they traded for him.
“When I got injured those few weeks, I was able to see what the team needed, kind of see better how things are done and how I can best help us win games,” Randle told Andscape recently. “So, usually when I get injured, I try to come back better than I was before and really that was my focus. It was just learning the teammates, learning the system, adjusting, learning how I can best help the team.”
Through the course of the season, Randle has gone from ridiculed and second-guessed as a replacement for former Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns to being one of the key reasons why the franchise is in the second round of the postseason.
The Western Conference’s sixth-seeded Timberwolves advanced to the second round of the playoffs by defeating NBA stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic and their Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the first round. Randle was key for Minnesota, averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in the series while playing tough defense on James.
“He was outstanding at both ends of the floor, and we don’t win this series without Julius,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said.
Next up for Randle, All-Star guard Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves is a second-round matchup against the seventh-seed Golden State Warriors. Randle believes the Timberwolves’ talent and versatility, with Edwards leading the way, will bring continued success.
“We’re very connected as a team,” Randle said. “We showed ourselves that we can win multiple ways. We have a very versatile, diverse, [deep] team. Different guys stepped up in different moments. We have a lot of confidence in our group as a whole that it’s not all on one person.
“We know Ant’s our guy. He’s going to be special every night. But for the rest of us, it’s not going to be all on one person. We can win and different guys can step up at different moments.”
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While Randle is beloved by Timberwolves fans now, that adoration took time to acquire.
The Timberwolves traded Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a 2025 first-round draft pick on Oct. 3, 2024 — just days before the start of training camp. Towns was second in Timberwolves franchise history in scoring behind only Kevin Garnett and was a four-time All-Star. Randle averaged 24.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game last season with the Knicks, but missed the playoffs in 2024 after surgery for a dislocated shoulder. Randle also had the challenge of moving his then-pregnant wife, Kendra, and two young sons, Kyden (8) and Jacey (3), to Minneapolis.
“The first few days it was tough,” Randle said. “You’ve been somewhere and built something for five years. So, it was tough mentally because I think everything kind of just hits you in the process of trying to win or trying to build something special [in New York], and then you’re on to the next situation.
“So that was a place [New York] I was the longest at in my career. So, it was tough. It took a few days, but honestly, when I got to Minnesota, I was ready to get to Minnesota. Once I got there, I was excited. I was ready for a fresh start. I was just happy to be there.”
There were high hopes for the Timberwolves after going to the 2024 Western Conference finals. But after starting the season 21-20, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins said: “The way it’s looking right now, they’re on the verge of making the worst trade in NBA history with Karl-Anthony Towns.” Perkins wasn’t the only media member, locally and nationally, criticizing the trade at the time, with many believing Randle was a bad fit.
Making matters worse was that Towns and the Knicks got off to a quick start. Finch, who coached Randle previously with the New Orleans Pelicans, wanted him to be more aggressive offensively. Randle, an 11-year NBA veteran, ignored the skepticism the best he could, looked for ways to improve and heeded Finch’s words.
“[I] didn’t pay too much attention to the outside noise,” Randle said. “Being locked in, [I] stayed in the moment. [I] saw frustration in the moment because guys hate to lose. Up and down. Not consistent. More of the frustration. [But I had] ultimate belief and confidence.”
Said Finch recently: “[Randle is] another guy who has had a lot of unfair criticism in his career.”
Randle sustained a right groin injury on Jan. 30 against the Utah Jazz. With Randle sidelined for a month, the Timberwolves became even more aware of his value as they went 5-8 during February. While sitting and watching, Randle believed he had a revelation on how to better fit in with the team and aid Edwards.
“I got some time to sit and evaluate,” Randle said. “I was traded here a few days before the season. I didn’t really get a summer or whatever. I just kind of got thrown into the fire and also coming off of an injury made it a little bit tough as well. So, I was kind of figuring it out on fly.”
The Timberwolves were on a five-game winning streak when Randle returned against the Phoenix Suns on March 2. Randle scored 20 points in the return during a 116-98 victory over the Suns. The Timberwolves won eight more games in a row with Randle back and 13 overall. After returning, Randle averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game, including 52.3% shooting from the field and 39.8% from 3-point range in 21 games. The Timberwolves had an 18-8 record after the All-Star break.
Edwards noticed a better Randle after his return.
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“The day he came back from injury, it seemed like he hadn’t been injured. He has been playing great since then. We need that from him,” Edwards said.
Edwards also appeared to mesh better with Randle after he returned. Finch said Edwards also improved his pregame preparation after following Randle’s lead by arriving at the arena very early to get ready for the game. Randle said he learned the importance of having a strong pregame work ethic from the late Kobe Bryant, who he played with on the Lakers.
Randle believes Edwards has a chance to be one of the best players in NBA history. But Randle refused to take credit for Edwards’ improved pregame routine.
“I’m always just trying to find ways I can improve,” Randle said. “Ant’s the same way. He’s a student of the game. I don’t got to push Ant. Ant is his own man. I try my best to lead by example. But Ant, he’s never had a problem working his butt off. He’s always in the gym constantly getting his reps and extra work in. Me being 11 years in this league, playing with special players and ultimately playing with my idol, Kob, I just try to lead by example like he did and try to pass on what he gave to me.
“Any way I can help Ant maximize his talent, that’s what I want to do. I want him to be as special as he can be. His work ethic has never been a problem. It’s good to see. I get there early. He gets there early. His energy is contagious. I see him work. It makes me want to work harder. He’s just that type of leader that has that type of energy.”
Randle will have another hill to overcome in the playoffs against the Warriors. He averaged 15.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.5 turnovers per game and shot 37.5% from the field in four regular-season games against Golden State this season. But those games were all played early in the season, as the Warriors and Timberwolves haven’t played since Jan. 5.
There has been enough of a sample size to prove that Randle is on the right track with the Timberwolves. Off the court, it also helps that his family is comfortable in their new home in Minneapolis that now includes a baby girl, Romi Joelle, born on April 21, and two boys able to be boys in a big yard.
“I love it. Man, it’s just laid back,” Randle said about Minneapolis. “My boys, they got space. They can just run around and be kids. It’s cold, but it’s good people, man. It’s just easy living, bro. Good food. The biggest thing is my family is enjoying having their space.”
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