The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA this month, with an 8-2 record overall and five wins in their last six games. The most recent of those wins was a 115-104 beatdown of the New York Knicks on Tuesday, led by 38 points from Anthony Edwards. They also recently gave the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder just their third loss in 28 games.

A key reason for the Timberwolves' success has been Julius Randle's performance as the Robin to Edwards' Batman. Randle scored 25 points in Wednesday’s win in response to consecutive sub-20 point outings, with the highlight of his night being an and-one in the fourth quarter that put the Timberwolves up double-digits with 5:26 remaining in the game. 

“It was just whatever to get myself going at that point,” Randle said. “So, I mean, that's just really what it was. I wasn't really down like mentally up until that point, so it was just more of an energy lift. The crowd got going and I got into it. You know, they gave me energy and it just rolled from there.”

For Randle, the best thing he could do to get himself back into a rhythm offensively was to just have fun with it. 

“You play this game long enough, you have challenges and ups and downs,” Randle said. “But having fun is key. Having fun is key. I think, like I said, me flexing a little bit, that's me having fun. So, having fun is key. From there, everything else just kind of takes place.”

If the Timberwolves and Randle want to have a successful long-term partnership, Randle knows he has to stay in the moment and use his expertise as a veteran to help push the team to its full potential. 

“Just being present,” Randle said. “Just being present for me. That's what I try to work on, just being in the moment. Not worrying about the future or what's happened in the past, just that exact moment. And then I think being in the league for 12 years helps a little bit.”

Tuesday’s win over New York was also a bit of a revenge game for Randle, who spent five seasons with the Knicks from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Randle was dealt to Minnesota in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade in during the 2024 offseason, but it’s safe to say he’s at peace with where he is. 

“Nah, I'm over it,” Randle said. “I had a great time in New York, accomplished, like I said, a lot of great things. The city was great to me. But, you know, I'm happy to be here in Minnesota, playing in front of the fans every day, being a part of this team. I'm home, where I'm at is home. So, I think I kind of got past that and I’m just happy where I am now.”