Magic Johnson’s Strong Julius Randle Statement Catches Attention

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated May 15, 2025 9:22 PM ET

On Wednesday, the Timberwolves dispatched the Golden State Warriors 121-110 to clinch their spot in the Western Conference Finals, capping a series in which Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle carried Minnesota past both the Lakers and Warriors.

In the first round, Minnesota upset LeBron James’ Lakers in five games, a series marked by size mismatches and defensive lapses that even Magic Johnson publicly blamed on Los Angeles’s small-ball lineup.

Shortly after the Warriors win, Johnson took to X to single out Randle’s resurgence, congratulating "superstar Anthony Edwards and the entire Minnesota Timberwolves team" and noting how "Julius Randle is playing the best that I’ve ever seen him play."

Congratulations to the Minnesota Timberwolves who picked the best time to play their best basketball; taking down the Lakers then the Warriors. Anthony Edwards dominated both the Lakers and Warriors with a lot of help from Julius Randle who is playing the best that I’ve ever seen…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 15, 2025

Johnson's endorsement underscores Randle’s career turnaround and cements Minnesota’s status as this spring’s hottest team.

Randle was a lottery pick by the Lakers in 2014 but struggled to meet expectations in Los Angeles and New York.

In 2021 with the Knicks, he broke out, making his first All-Star team, earning Most Improved Player honors and an All-NBA Second-Team berth.

Since getting traded to Minnesota in October 2024, Randle has elevated his play.

In Game 5 against Golden State, he poured in 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting, and over ten playoff games, he’s averaged 23.9 points at 50.9% efficiency.

His consistent scoring, improved playmaking (5.9 assists per game in the playoffs), and veteran savvy have been pivotal to Minnesota’s run.

The 2024-25 Timberwolves posted a 49-33 record and finished 3rd in the Northwest Division.

After knocking off the Lakers and Warriors, they’ll face Denver or Oklahoma City in the West Finals, with a chance to reach their first NBA Finals in franchise history.

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

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