Julius Randle’s Timberwolves Debut Spoils as Lakers’ 26YO Star Exposes 1 Costly Habit in Flagrant Interview

It wasn’t an ideal regular-season debut for Julius Randle with the T-Wolves. In 34 minutes on the floor, he posted 16 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, shooting 50% from the field. You might wonder what’s wrong with those numbers. For someone who was abruptly traded, they’re actually quite solid. However, the issue seemed to lie more in the execution than the stats themselves.

For one, the 29-year-old center had promised before the Wolves’ opener that this would be the best season of his career. Additionally, plenty of analysis and breakdowns were done about Randle’s fit with the team. While everything looked promising on paper, the reality, so far, seems slightly disheartening.

And a 26-year-old forward from the Lakers pointed out one costly habit of Julius Randle that bordered on humorous and concerning. The man in question was none other than Rui Hachimura. “Rui Hachimura was pretty, uh, direct in why he was so aggressive on Tuesday,” Jacob Rude, site manager of Silver Screen and Roll tweeted.  

“We talked about Julius Randle, He sometimes is just standing and stuff. So we talked about, we got to kind of use that. I know I can be the screener. I can be in the corner to kind of attack the rim,” Hachimura said, per Rude.

Suffice it to say, Rui’s hilariously blunt response might stem from how much he benefited from the situation. Often left as the off-ball defender when the Gonzaga alum dove to the rim, Randle’s tendency to stand still or lose focus allowed Hachimura to exploit the defense.

Clearly, it wasn’t his best outing.

Integrating Julius Randle into the Wolves system might take longer than anticipated

If you thought the Hachimura situation was frustrating, there’s more. Late in the third quarter, Randle caught the ball beyond the three-point line with Dalton Knecht guarding him. Spotting an opportunity, the 3x All-Star decided to take the shot. He drove to the basket, pulled up, and after a pump fake, attempted a 10-foot jumper. The result? An airball.

That wasn’t all. Earlier in the first half, Randle hesitated to shoot with just one second left on the shot clock, leaving Mike Conley scrambling to avoid a violation. In another play, the former Knick completely missed boxing out during a free throw attempt, allowing Austin Reaves to easily snag an offensive rebound.

These moments clearly highlight that the veteran forward/center still needs time to adjust and find his rhythm in Minnesota. However, patience will be essential. Randle’s heart is evidently in the right place. With a bit of support and a little time, he should be able to get back on track. Wouldn’t you say?