Julius Randle is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Brooklyn Nets. He gained public attention as a three-time NBA All-Star, the 2021 NBA Most Improved Player, and for his trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Nets in a blockbuster three-team deal that also sent Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.
Quick Facts
Full Name: Julius Deion Randle
Age: 31 (born November 29, 1994)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Professional Basketball Player (Power Forward)
Known For: Three-time NBA All-Star; 2021 Most Improved Player; two-time All-NBA selection
Marital Status: Not confirmed
Children: Not confirmed
Early Life and Background
Randle was born in Dallas, Texas, and attended Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, where he was rated as the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2013 high school class . He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky, where he was a consensus first-team All-American in 2014 and led the Wildcats to the NCAA championship game. He entered the NBA Draft after one season.
Career and Achievements
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Randle with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft . After his rookie season was cut short by injury, he became a consistent double-double threat, averaging 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in his final season with the Lakers in 2017-18.
Following a one-year stint with the New Orleans Pelicans, Randle signed with the New York Knicks in 2019 and broke out in a major way. In the 2020-21 season, he averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, earning his first All-Star selection, NBA Most Improved Player honors, and a spot on the All-NBA Second Team . He was named an All-Star again in 2023 and 2024 .
In 2024, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves . In the 2025-26 season, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across 79 games .
Why He Is In the News
Randle is in the news after being traded to the Brooklyn Nets on June 22, 2026, in a three-team deal that also involved the Chicago Bulls . The Minnesota Timberwolves sent Randle and the No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Nets, and received the No. 33 pick in return . The Bulls, in turn, acquired center Nic Claxton from the Nets . The deal clears $33 million from Minnesota’s books and gives the Nets a veteran All-Star alongside Michael Porter Jr.
Conclusion
Julius Randle is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA forward who has revitalized his career after being a high draft pick out of Kentucky. Now on his fifth NBA team, he will look to help the Brooklyn Nets end their rebuild and compete in the Eastern Conference.
