Julius Randle is entering his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves with a sense of peace that he admits had been missing in recent years. After a turbulent end to his tenure in New York, the forward says the change of scenery has brought him stability both on and off the court.
In a feature published by Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Randle opened up about how life in Minnesota has allowed him to reset. With a new three-year, $100 million deal and back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals, he feels more secure about his role and future.
“Now it just feels very settled,” Randle said. “I would say even this summer and leading up to the season is probably the happiest I’ve been in a really long time as far as just career, family, everything.”
Randle credited his wife, Kendra, and his family with helping him through one of the toughest stretches of his career. His battle with injuries, depression, and the pressure of New York basketball created what he described as a difficult environment to navigate.
“When I’m here, I feel like I don’t have to be perfect every single day,” Randle said. “And that just allows me to have that easiness and be comfortable to be like, all right, I’m not perfect every single day, but I’m trying my best. And people aren’t judging me just because you have one bad moment or two bad moments.”
Kendra also spoke about how much the move has restored his joy for the game, explaining that the chaos of New York had drained him of his happiness. She emphasized how important it was to find a place where he could “breathe and have fun playing again.”
Randle noted that his treatment with Dr. Daniel Amen played a major role in his recovery, helping him quit marijuana and identify the causes of his anxiety and depression. He credits those sessions, along with his wife’s support, for giving him the tools to reconnect with his family and himself.
“My wife, she’s seen the best of me, she’s seen the worst of me,” Randle said. “So she can be like, ‘That’s not who you are.’”
On the court, Randle has quickly become a core piece for Minnesota. He averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists last season, and added a playoff career-high 31 points in the Western Conference Semifinals. His ability to adapt alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert has been vital for the Timberwolves’ deep postseason runs.
