Julius Randle credits Kobe Bryant for ability to handle challenges as T’Wolves inch closer to Western Conference Finals

He did not capture an NCAA Tournament Championship at the University of Kentucky, but Julius Randle was one of the most talented players and leaders to come from John Calipari’s program at the time.

The three-time NBA All-Star is on his fourth team, but he has a special group around him.

People recognize Anthony Edwards as the leader of the Minnesota Timberwolves and potential face of the league, but Randle is the muscle of the unit. A former first-round pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, Randle averaged 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in the regular season. He assisted the T’Wolves in knocking out his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Randle totaled double figures in points in all five games, recording 22.6 points per contest.

He’s brought the same energy to the second round against Golden State. Randle has the Warriors down 3-1 and is one victory away from advancing Minnesota into the Western Conference Finals. He posted a double-double in games two and three, while collecting 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal in Game 4. Randle has endured adversity, but he’s also had help to face challenges better. The 6-foot-9, 250-pounder credits his leadership for the Timberwolves to the late Kobe Bryant.

Bryant was Randle’s teammate for the Lakers from 2014 to 2018.