Julius Randle Quits Smoking Weed After Leaving The Knicks: 'Important To Have Clear Mind...'

Julius Randle’s career has gone through several transformations, but perhaps none as impactful as his decision to step away from smoking weed. The former New York Knicks star, now thriving with the Minnesota Timberwolves, recently revealed that leaving behind the habit has helped him achieve greater mental clarity and presence both on and off the court.

During his candid remarks on the Change Your Brain Every Day podcast, Randle explained how smoking left him detached from reality.

"Be angry or upset or, you know, temperament or whatever it is where I would just react and, you know, kind of like black out. Like those things don't happen nearly as much. So I think I'm a lot more zen than I used to be."

"It's definitely tough in today's world, but I think it's so important to have a clear mind and being able to be strong mentally and independent mentally without anything influencing you as far as substance or voice or whatever. Like, being able to store your own thoughts out."

"And we talked about the like smoking, and I think one of the things with that, it made me distant and not present. Kind of just like would be in my own world. And I'm like, I'm fine. Like, this is what it is."

"My wife would be like, no, you're just not present. Like, we're having a conversation, you're not really present. You're with the kids, you're not really present." 

That clarity seems to be paying dividends in Minnesota. After being traded as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, Randle faced questions about how he would fit alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. The transition wasn’t seamless, but Randle eventually found his rhythm. 

His toughness, inside scoring, and veteran leadership helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals in his first season with the team. This summer, Minnesota doubled down on its faith in him, handing Randle a three-year, $100 million extension.

The new chapter has given Randle a fresh start, both personally and professionally. Free from the frustrations that marked the end of his Knicks tenure and armed with a newfound discipline, he is showing that he can still be a high-level contributor on a contending team. The Timberwolves’ rise has coincided with Randle’s growth, and both player and franchise seem to be moving in the right direction.

What stands out most is how Randle frames his decision: not as a sacrifice, but as a necessary step to unlock his best self. By eliminating distractions and embracing mental strength, he has put himself in a position to thrive. For a player once criticized for inconsistency and frustration, this version of Julius Randle is sharper, calmer, and more locked in than ever before. 

If Minnesota continues to build around Edwards and Randle’s veteran presence, his choice to quit smoking may be remembered as a turning point not just in his life, but in the Timberwolves’ pursuit of greatness.