BIOGRAPHY
Julius Deion Randle was born on November 29, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. He is a power forward in the NBA.
Randle began his career playing prep sports at Prestonwood Christian Academy. Randle would help the school win the state title in his freshman, junior, and senior seasons. In his senior season, Randle would average 32.5 points and 22.5 rebounds and was ranked a top 5 recruits by Rivals, ESPN, and Scout. He would be selected as a McDonald's All-American and to the Jordan Brand Classic where he won co-MVP. He is a two-time NBA All-Star and was awarded the NBA Most Improved Player Award in his second season with the Knicks in 2020–21.
Randle has also played on the international youth circuit representing the United States. He played for the 2012 FIBA America U18 team that would win the gold medal. he averaged 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Randle would commit to the University of Kentucky to play his collegiate basketball under coach John Callapri. As a true freshman, Randle would start all 40 games for the Wildcats. He would set school single-season freshman records in rebounds (417), double-doubles (24) and made free throws with (204). He was named to the Final Four NCAA All-Tournament Team, Midwest Region NCAA All-Tournament team, and SEC All-Tournament team. Randle would also receive All-SEC First Team, SEC Freshman of the Year, and All-SEC freshman team honors. Following his freshman season, Randle would enter into the 2014 NBA Draft.
In the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Randle was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. In his NBA debut, Randle suffered a season-ending injury breaking his right tibia. He would bounce back and have 15 points and 11 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 112-111 lost. Randle would play two more season with the Lakers averaging 13.5 points, 8.9 rebound and 2.6 assists per game before signing with the New Orleans Pelicans. In his lone season with the Pelicans, Randle averaged 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
On July 9th, 2019, Randle signed with the New York Knicks. In his second season with the Knicks, Randle made his first All-Star team. After the end of the regular season, Randle was named the NBA Most Improved Player, receiving 98 of 100 first place votes. On February 2, 2023, Randle was named to his second NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the Eastern Conference.
