“Pass the Damn Basketball”: Kendrick Perkins Goes Off at Julius Randle After Wolves Loss

Julius Randle became a primary contributor to the eight-minute disaster that cost the Minnesota Timberwolves against OKC. If you caught the matchup between the Wolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, you’d know about the 10 turnovers Minnesota had in the final 8:30 of the third quarter. Three of these eight were at the hands of Randle, who finished with four turnovers. And Kendrick Perkins has not hesitated to point out the most embarrassing one.

The former Celtics star turned analyst shared a clip from the NBA’s official X account that’s been making the rounds. In the video, OKC forward Jalen Williams stripped Randle of the ball as he tried bulldozing his way into the paint. The play ended in Williams’ favor. “Great defense but at some point Randle has to pass the damn basketball,” Perk wrote on X.

Now, let’s be fair. Don Julio isn’t exactly known for flashy passes or jaw-dropping assists. His role as a power forward or center doesn’t demand it. But Perkins does have a point. Imagine the impact if the 3x All-Star could step it up as a better playmaker. It might seem an unfair comparison, but think about LeBron James. Despite juggling multiple roles over his career, he consistently balances scoring, rebounding, and assisting at elite levels.

The question is why can’t Julius Randle aspire to do the same? Especially when he has the potential for it. Yep, it’s not as if he hasn’t shown glimpses of what he can do as a playmaker. During his time with the Knicks, Don Julio’s improved passing played a big role for the team.

Remember the 2023-24 season? That was when the impact of his playmaking skills was realized by many. He was making everyone around him better, especially Jalen Brunson. How about a fun fact to prove this notion?

When Julius Randle was on the floor, Brunson lit it up from downtown, shooting 42.6 percent from three and 48 percent overall. And with Don Julio out injured, Brunson’s efficiency took a hit. Thus proving just how valuable his playmaking could be. It was probably this realization that motivated him to elevate his numbers in the department of assists.

However, the 3x All-Star’s playmaking numbers have once again declined, barely crossing the 4 assists per game mark for the Wolves this season. If he wants to elevate his game and stick around the league longer, maybe it’s time to take Perkins’ advice seriously. Yet, this won’t be the first time an NBA champ insisted on Randle passing the ball.

The time when Kobe Bryant warned Julius Randle to pass “the damn ball”

Kobe’s final NBA game was nothing short of legendary. But for Julius Randle, it came with a moment he’ll never forget. Sharing the story on The Old Man and The Three podcast in 2021, Randle revealed how Bryant jokingly warned him during that unforgettable night in April 2016.

Imagine this: the Staples Center is electric, every fan hanging on Kobe’s every move in his last game. And Randle, a second-year forward at the time, has the ball in his hands after an in-bounds pass. Excited to make his mark, he turned to Kobe and said, “Yo… I’m shootin’ this time.”

But the Black Mamba wasn’t having it!

“Yo, MF. If you want everybody in this arena to boo you, go ahead. But you better throw me the damn ball,” Randle recalled Black Mamba’s words to him. Randle ended up taking just four shots that night, well below his usual average. But Kobe, ever the competitor, couldn’t resist one last jab.

After the game, he told Randle, “Y’all lucky I’m retiring because if I was in my prime… You would throw me the ball like this every single night.”

That playful exchange says it all about Kobe’s larger-than-life presence. As for Julius Randle, his role in the offense has grown immensely since then, showing how much he’s developed. Just a bit of elevation to his playmaking skills too, and Randle’s going places!