Julius Randle Bio
Julius Deion Randle (born November 29, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A three-time NBA All-Star and a two-time member of the All-NBA Team, he was awarded the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2021. In his only season of college basketball with the Kentucky Wildcats, Randle was named a third-team All-American.
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft with the seventh overall pick. After four years with the Lakers, Randle signed with the New Orleans Pelicans before joining the New York Knicks. In 2024, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he continues to play at a high level.
Early Life and Background
Julius Deion Randle was born on November 29, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. He is the son of Carolyn Kyles, who played basketball at the University of Texas. Growing up in a basketball-oriented household helped shape his early interest in the sport and gave him a clear foundation for the years ahead.
Randle attended Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, where he became one of the most decorated high school players in the country. He was widely regarded as a top-five player in the class of 2013, alongside Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Andrew Harrison, and Aaron Gordon. As a senior, Randle averaged 32.5 points and 22.5 rebounds per game and led his team to a state title. In 2023, the school retired his number 30, the first jersey retired for any former athlete at the academy.
In August 2012, Randle won the Under Armour Elite 24 dunk contest and was named MVP of the Elite 24 game after scoring 27 points. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 2 player in the nation in 2013.
Path to Basketball
Randle’s high school success quickly pushed him onto the national recruiting stage. On March 20, 2013, he committed to the University of Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over Texas, Kansas, and Florida. He joined a stacked recruiting class that included twin brothers Andrew and Aaron Harrison, James Young, Dakari Johnson, and Marcus Lee, six incoming Kentucky players who were selected for the 2013 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game and the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic.
At Kentucky, Randle was named one of 10 semi-finalists for the Naismith College Player of the Year on February 28, 2014. He helped lead the Wildcats to the national championship game, where they lost to the University of Connecticut. In 40 games, he averaged 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, finishing with 24 double-doubles, the most ever by a Kentucky freshman.
On April 22, 2014, Randle declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility. He was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning his professional career in one of the league’s most-watched markets.
Julius Randle Career
Early Career (2014–2018): Los Angeles Lakers
Randle’s NBA debut came on October 28, 2014, against the Houston Rockets, but he broke his right tibia after only 14 minutes of playing time and missed the rest of the 2014–15 season. He returned the following year, recording 15 points and 11 rebounds in the 2015–16 season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On March 25, 2016, Randle posted his first career triple-double, with 13 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Denver Nuggets, becoming the youngest Laker with a triple-double since Magic Johnson.
By the 2017–18 season, Randle had become a steady contributor, finishing as the only Laker to appear in all 82 games. As a starter, he averaged 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He became a restricted free agent after the season, and on July 2, 2018, the Lakers renounced their rights, making him an unrestricted free agent.
New Orleans Pelicans (2018–2019)
On July 9, 2018, Randle signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. He opened his tenure with 25 points off the bench in a 131–112 win over the Houston Rockets. On November 19, he recorded his sixth career triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists against the San Antonio Spurs. By March 2019, he had set a new career high of 45 points in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. He declined his second-year player option on June 16, 2019, and entered free agency again.
New York Knicks (2019–2024)
On July 9, 2019, Randle signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the New York Knicks. His breakthrough came during the 2020–21 season, when he was named a reserve for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game and later earned the NBA Most Improved Player Award with 98 of 100 first-place votes. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team. On August 27, 2021, the Knicks extended his contract with a four-year, $117 million deal.
During the 2022–23 season, Randle was selected to his second NBA All-Star Game and produced a career-high 57 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the most by a Knick since Carmelo Anthony’s 62 in 2014. He was later named to the All-NBA Third Team. On February 1, 2024, he was named to his third NBA All-Star Game, but on April 4, 2024, the team announced that he would undergo shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
Minnesota Timberwolves (2024–Present)
On October 2, 2024, Randle was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Donte DiVincenzo in a three-team deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks. He made his debut on October 22, scoring 16 points, nine rebounds, and four assists against the Los Angeles Lakers. On November 17, Randle hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Phoenix Suns 120–117. He started 69 games during the 2024–25 regular season, averaging 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.
In the playoffs, Randle recorded a triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Golden State Warriors, becoming the second Timberwolves player with a playoff triple-double after Kevin Garnett. He added 31 points in Game 4 to help Minnesota take a 3–1 series lead. On June 29, 2025, Randle agreed to a three-year, $100 million contract extension with the Timberwolves.
Driving Style and Strengths
Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Randle uses his size, strength, and footwork to overpower defenders in the paint while steadily expanding his perimeter game. He is a reliable rebounder and playmaker for his position, capable of posting up, attacking closeouts, and facilitating offense from the high post or the elbow.
Notable Events and Milestones
Randle’s career is marked by several signature moments, including his first career triple-double with the Lakers, his 57-point game for the Knicks, and a buzzer-beating three-pointer in his early Timberwolves tenure. He is one of only two Timberwolves players to record a playoff triple-double in franchise history.
Julius Randle Career Wins
Over the course of his NBA career, Julius Deion Randle has been recognized as a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and the 2021 NBA Most Improved Player. His consistent production on both ends of the floor has made him one of the league’s most reliable forwards.
NBA Highlights
Randle’s biggest NBA highlights include his 2021 All-Star selection, his 2021 Most Improved Player honor, and his 2021 and 2023 All-NBA selections. In 2024, he earned his third All-Star nod, capping a five-year run in which he became the face of the Knicks’ resurgence.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NBA, Randle was a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic participant in 2013. He was a key part of the 2013–14 Kentucky Wildcats team that reached the national championship game, and in 2016 he joined the US Select Team that practiced against the senior national team ahead of the Rio Summer Olympics.
Julius Randle Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Julius Deion Randle is the son of Carolyn Kyles, a former basketball player at the University of Texas. His mother’s college experience influenced his early development and helped guide him toward the sport at a high level.
Personal Life
Randle is married to Kendra Shaw. In December 2016, Shaw gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son. Randle is also known as a devout Christian and, while at Kentucky, attended the team chapel before every home game.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season marked Julius Deion Randle’s first full year with the Minnesota Timberwolves after his October 2024 trade from the Knicks. He started 69 games, averaging 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while providing veteran leadership on a roster aiming to build on its previous playoff success.
Randle’s postseason play was a major storyline, highlighted by his Game 3 triple-double against the Golden State Warriors and a 31-point performance in Game 4 that pushed the Timberwolves to a 3–1 series lead. The Timberwolves eventually reached the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games despite a 143–101 win in Game 3.
On June 29, 2025, Randle agreed to a three-year, $100 million contract extension, signaling Minnesota’s long-term commitment to him as a core piece. With his shoulder healed and his role secured, Randle is positioned to remain a focal point of the Timberwolves’ rotation heading into the 2025–26 season.