Julius Randle’s regular-season debut with the Minnesota Timberwolves wasn’t exactly what fans had envisioned. On paper, his 16 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in 34 minutes seem solid, especially for a player who had just been traded. But the numbers tell only half the story. It’s not about his stats; it’s about the execution—or lack thereof.
Randle had declared this would be the best season of his career. Analysts were optimistic about his fit with the Wolves, predicting a seamless transition. Yet, in his first outing, something seemed off. The chemistry and rhythm that many hoped to see were missing. His performance, while decent statistically, revealed glaring issues with how he is adapting to his new team.
One of the sharpest critiques came from an unlikely source—26-year-old forward Rui Hachimura of the Lakers. In a candid post-game interview, Hachimura pointed out a costly habit of Randle’s that he exploited during their game. “We talked about Julius Randle,” Hachimura said, according to Lakers reporter Jacob Rude. “He sometimes is just standing and stuff, so we talked about using that. I know I can be the screener and attack the rim.”
Hachimura’s blunt observation highlighted a major flaw in Randle’s off-ball awareness. At times, Randle seemed disengaged when playing defense, allowing opponents like Hachimura to take advantage. This lapse in focus led to easy opportunities for the Lakers and exposed a vulnerability that the Timberwolves will need to address quickly.
But Hachimura’s critique wasn’t the only concerning moment in Randle’s debut. Late in the third quarter, Randle found himself one-on-one with Dalton Knecht beyond the arc. Rather than passing or driving decisively, he hesitated. After a pump fake, he pulled up for a mid-range jumper—a 10-foot airball. Earlier in the game, with just one second left on the shot clock, Randle’s hesitation forced teammate Mike Conley into a desperate scramble to avoid a violation.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Late in the third quarter, Randle was guarded by Dalton Knecht beyond the three-point line. Instead of making a decisive move, he hesitated, eventually taking a 10-foot jumper that resulted in an airball. Moments like these were repeated throughout the game, including a moment earlier when Randle, with just one second left on the shot clock, passed up a shot, leaving Mike Conley scrambling to avoid a violation.
These small mistakes added up. In another sequence, Randle failed to box out during a free throw attempt, allowing Austin Reaves to secure an easy offensive rebound. If Randle is going to live up to his bold preseason promise, he’ll need to clean up these lapses and find a way to integrate into the Timberwolves’ system much faster.
