Julius Randle Reflects On Facing The 'Darkest Moment' Of His NBA Career With Knicks

Julius Randle was the centerpiece of the New York Knicks’ resurgence just a couple of seasons ago. But then just like that, his performance dipped, and about a year ago, he found himself being traded away to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Arriving in Minnesota was more like adjusting to the suburbs, coming to a much calmer environment from the relentless New York City. Talking to the NYT recently, Randle opened up about his exit from the Knicks and how he’s found a much more refreshed outlook on life.

“You know how New York is, man. You’re under a different microscope,” the former New York Knicks power forward said. “So it’s like, you’re not just battling and trying to win. It seems like you’re battling a million different things.”

The exit was swift and surprising, and the Knicks got Karl Anthony-Towns in return. So in essence, even in his exit, he did help the Knicks get to the stage they are today. It still took a lot from him mentally, and he struggled a lot initially.

“At the end of that time, I was kind of at my darkest moment… Just miserable, like in a way where I just was not having fun going to work every single day.” The former New York star recalled.

The new place isn’t that bad after all, though. His end of the trade worked out just fine as he’s playing for a contender with a star cemented in place, in Anthony Edwards. Randle can play the veteran who can provide massive value and build the latter end of his career and legacy.

His dip with the Knicks came in January 2025, when he was taken out of a game against the Utah Jazz. He suffered a right abductor strain and was out of action for two weeks.

By the next month, his averages were down to single digits, a far cry from the 33 points he scored in November in a game. He even had multiple 20+ points performances before the lull in January-February.

After the trade, it wasn’t just a city that he had to shift; he had to change his lifestyle. And that came with making sure he’s moving away from the life he led in the Big Apple.

Julius Randle On Quitting Marijuana After Minnesota Trade

In an interview earlier this month, he revealed how he transformed his outlook once he moved to Minnesota, revealing that he could not wait to get to the new city because he was totally done with New York.

Talking about his journey to a better brain, he appeared on a podcast with Dr. Daniel Amen. The former Knicks star revealed how stopping smoking, amongst other changes, has impacted his emotional stability.

“Important to have a clear mind without anything influencing you,” Randle said.

Randle is set to play an essential role with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The next year, he’ll be a lot more relaxed and calm, settled into the new city. 

Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in his last season with the Knicks (2023-24), with shooting splits of 47.2% from the field, 31.1% from beyond the three-point arc, and 78.1% from the free-throw line. After getting traded to the Timberwolves, he averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. 

On the face of it, his performance has deteriorated. But this doesn't take into account that he no longer has the pressure of the New York fans and being the primary scorer every night with a superstar like Anthony Edwards on his team. Moreover, his shooting efficiency has improved on all fronts. 48.5% from the field, 34.4% from the field, and 80.6% from the free-throw line. 

With the Timberwolves having a strong contention for the Western Conference Finals, and the Knicks also developing into a powerhouse of the East, I am curious to see where the two teams end up in 2025-26 and how Randle's career progresses with the Timberwolves, now that he claims he is much happier than he was before.