Julius Randle started his NBA career with high expectations. He was picked 7th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014 draft and aspired to be a Laker for life, just like Kobe Bryant. However, his hopes came crashing down when LeBron James decided to sign with the Lakers in 2018. The Lakers let go of Randle after only 4 seasons, and he was forced to sign a mid-level contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

During the Roommates Show podcast with his Knicks teammates, Julius Randle revealed how LeBron’s $154 million signing ended his Kobe dream. After Randle played all 82 games in his 4th year and became a contender for Most Improved Player, he expected the Lakers to give him a massive contract extension. “I was really starting to blossom into like a consistent player… I was like I am definitely getting paid,” Randle recalls.

But after the news of LeBron signing a 4-year contract with the Lakers broke out, Randle knew he would not get what he wanted. Randle could not even choose his next destination because he was a restricted free agent. “The money basically dried up. I was kind of like in limbo.” The Knicks star said.

Randle watched great opportunities pass him by as he could have joined Miami or Cleveland through sign and trade. But the Lakers did not want that. So, Randle decided to go with the next best option and chose the team that would be the best basketball fit for him. He signed a 2-year $18 million contract with the Pelicans with a player option for the second year. That turned out to be a great decision for Randle, as his game improved a lot after teaming up with Anthony Davis.

Things eventually turned out well for Julius Randle

Although Julius Randle failed to follow in Kobe Bryant’s footsteps as a Laker, he was able to turn his career around. After Randle played his first game at MSG in his second season, he knew he wanted to join the Knicks if he ever left LA. When that opportunity opened up after spending a year in New Orleans, Randle pounced on it and signed with the Knicks. He immediately turned into a superstar after moving to New York.

Randle won the Most Improved Player award in his second season with the Knicks and got his first All-Star nod. Five seasons into his Knicks tenure, Randle is a 3-time All-Star and a franchise player alongside Jalen Brunson. So, LeBron’s 2018 signing with the Lakers might have been a blessing in disguise for Julius Randle, as it helped him reach his true potential and become the face of one of the most historic NBA franchises.

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