Julius Randle is an American basketball player who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. Randle's NBA journey has been a roller coaster ride and an inspiration to many. From the beginning, he faced numerous hurdles, but through resilience and hard work, he emerged as a great player in the league. Randle's talent was evident during his high school days at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. He was considered a five-star recruit by all the scouts. He was ranked as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 2 player in the nation by Rivals.com in 2013.
The three-time All-Star is a vital part of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's known for his versatility as a power forward who can shoot and handle the ball, showcasing a soft mid-range game that's uncommon for a forward. One of the standout moments in his career was when he scored a remarkable career-high 57 points for the Knicks, going 19-of-29 from the field.
Julius Randle Draft History
The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Julius Randle with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Expected to be a promising young forward alongside the veteran Kobe Bryant, Randle's NBA debut took a disastrous turn. Just 14 minutes into his first-ever NBA game, he suffered a catastrophic injury. Randle broke his right tibia and was forced to miss the entire season.
Randle recovered from his injury and made a strong comeback in his second season by playing 81 games, starting in 60 of them. He maintained solid statistics, averaging a double-double with 11.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Over the next two seasons, Randle kept consistent numbers. However, there was a notable absence of significant improvement in his gameplay. His performances fell short of the high standards expected by Lakers fans. As the seventh overall pick, there was a desire for Randle to make an instant impact, which didn't materialize as hoped. Ultimately, the Lakers chose not to retain him in the 2018 free agency, leading to a change in his NBA journey.
Julius Randle College Career
Julius Randle played for the Kentucky Wildcats team. During his sole season at Kentucky in 2013-14, Randle was a double-double machine. He wrapped up the season with an impressive 24 double-doubles, the second-highest in Kentucky's history, just behind Dan Issel's record of 25 in 1969-70. Randle set a new record for the most double-doubles by a Kentucky freshman.
Under Randle’s leadership, the Wildcats went to the national championship game in the 2013-14 season, where they lost to the University of Connecticut. During that season, Randle played in 40 games, all of which he started, and he maintained averages of 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 30.8 minutes per game.
Julius Randle Teammates in College
During his Wildcats days, Randle played with future NBA talents such as Willie Cauley-Stein, twins Andrew & Aaron Harrison, and Dakari Johnson.
FAQs on Julius Randle
A. Julius Randle wingspan is 7 ft 0 in or 2.13 m, as per the NBA 2k25 player profile.
A. On March 23, Julius Randle scored his career high 57 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A. Julius Randle married his longtime partner Kendra Randle in 2017.
A. The forward spent his starting four years (2014-2018) with the Los Angeles Lakers.
A. Julius Randle height is 6 ft 8 in or 2.03 m, as per the NBA 2k25 player profile.
