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Lonzo Ball Reveals Lakers' Disrespectful Julius Randle Treatment

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Trevor Squire | Last updated May 20, 2025 9:36 AM ET

The fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves was far from seamless at first, but Julius Randle has rewritten the narrative about his career and the trade from the New York Knicks in a matter of weeks.

Often-maligned for falling short in the postseason, Randle has arguably stepped up more than any Wolves player in their run to the Western Conference Finals.

The 30-year-old forward has become a force in all phases, contributing as a scorer, playmaker and defender.

It may have come as a surprise to NBA observers at large, but not former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Lonzo Ball, who shouted out Randle and detailed the Lakers' disrespect of Randle's all-around talents early in his career.

"They sat us all down early in the season in the locker room, went through everybody’s roles and [expletive]," Ball said, reflecting on his days in Los Angeles on a May 16 episode of his podcast. "They got to [Julius Randle]. They talking about 'just rebound and set screens, nothing else'. I’m like, 'What the [expletive]?' So then I’m like, 'Nah,' I low key spoke up. I’m talking about 'nah'. Like he one of our best players… And then after that [expletive], that’s when we got cool after that. But nah, they was disrespecting him crazy in LA, bro. And now look what he doing now."

This postseason, Randle shined against the Lakers, who drafted him No. 7 overall in 2014 and let him walk in free agency four years later. Randle handled the primary matchup with LeBron James and averaged 22.6 points per game in a five-game series win over Los Angeles in the first round.

Poetic justice.

As the Wolves are 8-2 in the postseason, Randle has pieced together a rare performance only few players have ever achieved.

"In 10 playoff games, Julius Randle is averaging 23.9 PPG on 50.9 FG%, 5.9 RPG and 5.9 APG," the Timberwolves wrote in an announcement on X. "In the past 60 years, he joins LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Willie Anderson and Walter Davis to average 20.0+ PPG/50.0+ FG%/5.0+ RPG/5.0+ APG in their first 10 playoff games with a team."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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