Timberwolves' Julius Randle speaks candidly on facing former Knicks teammate after his trade: "It’s different than last 5 years"
Three-time NBA All-Star Julius Randle is now on his fourth team after the New York Knicks traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 2. Randle called New York home for the past five seasons after initially signing a three-year deal back in the summer of 2019.
On Sunday, Randle will set foot in Madison Square Garden again but wearing a different jersey. The Athletic's Jon Krawzcynski shared Randle's thoughts on X about returning to his former team's home floor.
"It’s fun," Randle said. "Different. It’s different than the last five years. It still feels like I’m a resident because it’s just so soon, coming to the Garden and all that type of stuff. But it’s cool. It’s cool."
However, Randle remains questionable and the Timberwolves have yet to release his official status. The tipoff for Sunday's preseason game is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. ET.
He has yet to suit up in any preseason game so far but there is optimism that he will make his Timberwolves debut this week.
Randle played in the Knicks' first 46 games last season but his campaign was cut short after he suffered a dislocated shoulder against the Miami Heat on Jan. 27 which required surgery.
How has Julius Randle performed against his former teams?
Since being drafted in 2014, Julius Randle has played for three different NBA franchises. He started his career with the LA Lakers after they selected him seventh overall.
After four seasons in LA, he joined the New Orleans Pelicans as a free agent in the summer of 2018. In his lone season with the team, he played four games against the Lakers and averaged 24.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
Randle declined his player option the following summer and entered free agency again before he signed with the Knicks. Randle first faced the Pelicans as a Knick in the 2020-21 season. In two games versus New Orleans that year, he averaged 32.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 7.5 apg.
That was the same season Randle was named an All-Star for the first time. He also won the Most Improved Player of the Year award and was part of the All-NBA second team.