Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have formed a productive partnership on the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading the team to the Western Conference finals in their first season together.
Not everyone was sold on the Timberwolves' decision to acquire Randle in the 2024 offseason, though.
There were concerns regarding not just how Randle would fit with this team, but also about the man himself. The 30-year-old had built up a bit of a negative reputation during his five seasons with the New York Knicks.
Randle made the All-Star team thrice with the Knicks, but was labeled as someone with a bad attitude. He also didn't always have the greatest of relationships with the fanbase, like when he infamously gave them a thumbs down for booing him in 2022.
Randle has been a model citizen with the Timberwolves, though. He also started to fit in with the team over time and was immense in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Randle averaged 23.9 points on 50.9% shooting from the field as the Timberwolves knocked out the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
Edwards has enjoyed playing alongside Randle and has grown fond of him as a person as well. He made his feelings clear regarding his teammate to ESPN recently.
"I feel like there's been a bad narrative going around about him, as far as the type of person he is," Edwards told ESPN. "He's the coolest person. He's one of the coolest people I've ever met. I love Julius, man."
Edwards and Randle will need to be at their best on the court if the Timberwolves are to stay alive in these playoffs. They are down 3-1 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, and Game 5 will be at Paycom Center on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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