Julius Randle struggled in a very familiar manner in the playoffs as the Timberwolves benched him late against the Thunder.

Fast forward to May 19: both the Knicks and Timberwolves are in the Conference Finals. Towns and New York defeated the No. 2-seeded Celtics in six games to advance, while Randle played a huge role in the Timberwolves’ semifinals series against the Warriors.

For most of the season, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch displayed unwavering faith in Julius Randle. Finch’s patience led to the Wolves’ brilliant run to the playoffs and two dominant playoff series victories.

On the other side of the bracket, a story has developed that should intrigue and maybe surprise Knicks fans. Julius Randle, the former playoff bust in New York, emerged as a two-w

Julius Randle’s leap from the Knicks to Timberwolves highlights how a change of scenery can bring out his best.

One of the best stories of the 2025 NBA Playoffs is the New York Knicks’ organizational turnaround that has led them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.

This postseason, Randle shined against the Lakers, who drafted him No. 7 overall in 2014 and let him walk in free agency four years later. Randle handled the primary matchup with LeBron James and averaged 22.6 points per game in a five-game series win over Los Angeles in the first round.

Stephen A. Smith says Julius Randle is key to the Timberwolves’ success as they prepare to face the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.