Julius Randle Says Playing For The Knicks Was Not Fun: 'Can't Really Focus On The Game'

Julius Randle was traded to the Timberwolves in a blockbuster move for Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in October 2024. This trade ended Randle's five-year stint in New York. He was an All-Star three times with the Knicks. He also led them to the Playoffs twice in that stint, ending their 8-year dry spell without Playoff basketball in New York (since 2012-13). 

Brunson's arrival in 2022 signaled to Randle that his era as the primary ball handler with the Knicks was over. Ever since then, his role has gradually declined to become the third option on the team, behind Brunson and RJ Barrett. In October last year, the Knicks finally decided to move on from Randle in a trade with the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns that also included Donte DiVincenzo. Now, months after the trade, Randle looks back at his time with the Knicks. And not very fondly, one must point out. 

“It ain’t fun, it ain’t fun,” Randle said. “You can’t really focus on the game, you’re focused on everything else other than the game itself. You’re living and dying with every single shot, every single turnover, every single loss. It’s not a fun way to play."

“It’s exhausting," he said. The Knicks never really embraced Randle as their No. 1 option, and he felt the pressures of being in New York every single day. 

Julius Randle Compares Anthony Edwards To Kobe Bryant

In the same conversation with Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, Randle also spoke about his true feelings about Anthony Edwards. He compared his competitive spirit to the Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

“Kobe [Bryant] is my favorite player. He’s not my favorite player because I grew up playing like Kobe. Anthony Edwards is Kobe, you know what I’m saying? My whole thing with Kobe was, his mindset was different. He’s trying to break your will. He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever seen, playing against, played with.”

Randle has averaged 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the four games of their Western Conference Finals series against the Thunder. Meanwhile, Edwards has averaged 24.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in the same duration. The Timberwolves are down 3-1 in their series against the Thunder after their 128-126 Game 4 loss in Minnesota. 

If Randle needs to truly get his revenge on the Knicks, he will have to help the Timberwolves pull off a nearly impossible comeback and hope the Knicks beat the Pacers in the East so that he can face the Knicks in the Finals. A storybook ending like that would be the cherry on the cake for Randle, however unlikely it may be at the moment.