The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Julius Randle as the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, yet they never fully embraced him as a central figure for the franchise. During his four seasons with the Lakers, Randle was limited in both playing time and offensive involvement, which contributed to doubts about his future role. Lonzo Ball, who played as a rookie for the Lakers during Randle’s final season there, has recently shared how the team’s management disrespected Randle before allowing him to leave and eventually thrive elsewhere.
The Lakers’ Restrictive Role for Julius Randle
In his tenure with Los Angeles, Julius Randle never averaged more than 30 minutes per game nor took more than 11 shots on average. This limited usage contrasted sharply with his later career success. Randle’s potential blossomed after departing the Lakers, earning three All-Star selections, two All-NBA team honors, and the 2021 Most Improved Player award during his time with the New York Knicks.
Lonzo Ball has described the Lakers’ approach as dismissive. Reflecting on his rookie season, Ball recounted seeing the team management define Randle’s role narrowly, emphasizing rebounding and setting screens while neglecting his broader offensive skills. On Ball’s podcast, What an Experience with Lonzo Ball, he explained,
“One of the craziest things I’ve ever heard in my life, when I was on that team [Lakers],”
“They sat us all down early in the season in the locker room, went through everybody’s roles, and sh–. When they got to Julius, they were talking about just rebound and set screens, like nothing else. I’m like ‘What the [expletive]’”
Lonzo Ball Challenges the Lakers’ Decision on Randle’s Role
Lonzo Ball, a point guard known for his focus on passing and team play, was concerned about how Randle’s talents were being sidelined. He spoke out against the limited role assigned to Randle, emphasizing his value and diversity as a player. Lonzo shared,
“They sat us down, went through roles… got to Julius, they like ‘just rebound and set screens, nothing else.’ I’m like nah… I lowkey spoke up. He one of our best players.. we got cool after that. Now look at what hes doing.”
“So, then I’m like, ‘Nah.’ I low-key spoke up. I’m talking about ‘Nah, like, he one of our best players, he’s the only [expletive] that can do everything, like, what the [expletive]?’ And then after that sh–, that’s when we got cool after that. But nah, they were disrespecting him crazy in L.A., bro, and now look what he’s doing now. So I’m definitely uh happy to see him doing his thing.”
Despite the Lakers’ limited faith, Julius Randle signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-year, $18 million deal, where he averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in his only season. Subsequently, he opted out and agreed to a more lucrative three-year, $63 million contract with the New York Knicks, affirming his rising status in the league.
Julius Randle’s Continued Success with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Julius Randle’s meteoric rise continued after being acquired by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a major 2024 trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns. In his first season with Minnesota, Randle produced solid regular-season numbers of 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across 69 games. His play intensified during the playoffs, where he averaged 21.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 14 games.
Randle’s impact was vital as the Timberwolves defeated both the Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the first two playoff rounds. They advanced to the Western Conference Finals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a key Game 3 matchup, Randle contributed 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, leading Minnesota to a dominant 143-101 victory—the second-largest win in franchise history.
Looking ahead, Randle holds a player option worth $30 million for the 2025-26 season, placing the Timberwolves in a strong position to retain a central figure in their ongoing quest for championship contention.