Julius Deion Randle, a Kentucky native, was drafted 7th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014. Born on November 29, 1994, Randle was named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2021. He significantly changed the mentality of the New York Knicks during his time there.
Randle played for the Lakers from 2014 to 2018 before signing with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 2018-19 season as a free agent. His career took a transformative turn when he joined the Knicks, signing a three-year, $63 million deal in 2019. During the 2021 season, he reached new heights in his performance, scoring athen career-high 44 points in a game.
In the same year, Randle was selected for his first of three NBA All-Star appearances and won the Most Improved Player Award, while Coach Tom Thibodeau received the Coach of the Year award-just one year after Randle signed with the Knicks. His impact on the team has been crucial in their resurgence.
At the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to New York in exchange for Randle and another player. The complete trade details are as follows:
Knicks receive:
– Karl-Anthony Towns (via Timberwolves)
– Draft rights to James Nnaji (via Hornets)
Timberwolves receive:
– Julius Randle (via Knicks)
– Donte DiVincenzo (via Knicks)
– Keita Bates-Diop (via Knicks)
– Future first-round pick (from Knicks via Pistons)
Hornets receive:
– Charlie Brown (via Knicks)
– DaQuan Jeffries (via Knicks)
– Duane Washington Jr. (via Knicks)
– 2 future second-round picks (via Knicks)
– 2025 second-round pick (via Timberwolves)
– Cash considerations
Randle’s statistics with the Timberwolves have drawn comparisons to franchise legends like Kevin Garnett. He became the latest player to record a playoff triple-double for Minnesota since Garnett in 2004.
In a standout performance against the Warriors, Randle became the first player in Timberwolves history to achieve consecutive playoff games with 10 or more assists. This postseason, he has averaged 22.4 points per game and 6.4 assists per game, including a triple-double in Game 3 against Golden State. Since Randle returned from injury in March, the Timberwolves have recorded a remarkable 23-6 record.
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