When Minnesota traded away franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns shortly before the 2024-25 NBA season tipped off, there were many questions. Was it the right time? Were there financial motivations? Could Donte DiVincenzo replace some of Towns’ shooting? But one major concern regarded the playoffs. Towns had long struggled in the postseason, but in the 2024 Western Conference Finals run, he put it all together. In two series wins, he defended Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic admirably, scored efficiently, and was a perfect second star next to Anthony Edwards.
Meanwhile, his replacement was a notorious under-performer on the biggest stage. Julius Randle had slogged his way through two playoff series with the Knicks, averaging under 20 points per game and recording more turnovers than assists. His reputation was that of a playoff dropper, the exact opposite of what Minnesota needed if they wanted to repeat their success of a year earlier.
Julius Randle is Shutting Down Playoff Narratives
Randle’s Regular Season Set Him Up For Success
It was a slow start for Randle, who was coming off a shoulder injury, trying to fit in with a new crop of teammates, and dealing with moving his family cross-country to the cold Midwest. Understandably, he didn’t achieve All-Star status, and the team wallowed in the middle of the West. It wasn’t necessarily a disappointment, but there was a sense that the team had taken a step back. This all changed when Randle picked up a minor groin injury in the final game of January.
In the five games before his injury, the Wolves had started to click, winning five straight. But in the following, with Randle sidelined, Minnesota went a miserable 5-8, struggling to stay afloat. All the while, Randle was recovering from his groin injury, finally feeling like his shoulder was healthy, and seeing how the team functioned without him in the lineup. The chance to take an outside look at the team helped him find areas where he could contribute. When he returned on the first of March, he was ready to roll. Post injury, Randle averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting nearly 40 percent from three. The Wolves ripped off an eight-game win streak, closing the season 17-4 with Randle back in the lineup, and snuck into the playoffs as a six seed, escaping the Play-In Tournament.
Randle’s Consistency Lifts Wolves to Playoff Wins
In the five-game drubbing of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, Minnesota had great performances from multiple players. Edwards scored 43 points in a Game 4 victory. Jaden McDaniels scored 25 and 30 in Game 1 and Game 3, respectively. Rudy Gobert closed the door with 27 points and 24 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 win. But throughout the series, it was Randle who was Minnesota’s most consistent player. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Additionally, Randle was the primary defender on LeBron James. His timely shotmaking and willingness to kick out to shooters were key factors in the series win.
Against Golden State in the second round, Randle was just hitting his stride. In Game 1, the Wolves played a woefully bad game. Edwards missed all 11 of his attempts from deep, en route to a team three-point percentage of just 17.2%. One of two lone bright spots (Naz Reid did play well) was Randle’s playmaking. His six assists led the team, and he had another five potential assists left on the table. In Game 2, when the Wolves actually knocked down some shots, his assist number jumped to 11, while the potential assists were up to 14. Moreover, Randle poured in 24 points. He is finding teammates, scoring against mismatches, all while shutting down concerns about his ability to raise his play in the playoffs. Ultimately, Randle will be an integral cog in Minnesota’s machine if the Wolves are to defeat the Warriors and return to the Western Conference Finals.
Featured image: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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