The third quarter in San Francisco felt like a page ripped straight out of the Mamba playbook. The Timberwolves didn’t just play; they owned the moment. After halftime, Edwards and Randle ignited a 17-0 run, and now Minnesota sits just one win away from the Western Conference Finals. Game 4 ended 117–110, giving Minnesota a 3–1 series edge. And if you caught that second-half energy, you’d think Kobe himself whispered in their ears.

Naturally, the numbers back up the show. Edwards dropped 30 points, added 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and led a 17-0 third-quarter blitz that pretty much stunned the Chase Center crowd. But hold on—Randle wasn’t playing sidekick. He racked up 31 points, grabbed 5 boards, and dished 3 assists. By the end of the third, Minnesota had a 20-point cushion, and honestly, they never looked like giving it up. With Game 5 set for Wednesday in Minneapolis, the Wolves are eyeing the finish line.

Still, while fans were cheering the on-court fireworks, a much older story started trending. Yep—Randle’s private moment with Kobe Bryant came back into the spotlight. “We’re coming up on the hotel in Dallas, and Kobe turns to me and he goes, ‘Julius, what you bout to do,’” Randle recalled. And when he casually mentioned family plans, Kobe shut that down real quick: “Nah. We’re going to the gym.”

That private exchange reshaped Randle’s mindset. “I mean, that right there, it’s just the power of Kobe. If anyone else in the world had said that to me, in that moment, I might have hit ’em with an eye roll and went on with my business,” he said. “But when Mamba is telling you that it’s a change of plans, and you’re coming with him to the gym tonight? You don’t ask questions. You just do as you’re told.”

Now at 30, Randle’s averaging 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 48.5% shooting. And judging by his Game 4 heroics, it’s safe to say he’s still carrying a piece of Kobe with him.

Julius Randle’s “mamba mentality” is fueling the Wolves’ Playoff push

As the Timberwolves close in on a trip to the Western Conference Finals, it’s hard not to notice Julius Randle’s presence on and off the court. A former Laker, Randle debuted as the No. 7 pick in 2014. His evolution into a vocal leader and reliable second option in Minnesota feels like a full-circle moment. After all, he was once guided by one of the greatest to ever do it—Kobe Bryant. And truthfully, that mentorship is still echoing through his game today.

Back in 2014, Randle entered the league as the Lakers’ seventh overall pick, full of dreams and determination. It was a big stage, and the pressure was real. But what made it all worth it was landing in a franchise rich with history—and getting to share the locker room with Bryant. That rookie season didn’t go the way he hoped—his year ended in his very first game with a serious injury—but even then, Bryant had his back.

Over time, that bond became something deeper. “The things that he passed down to me, the things that I learned from him. It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old, but now that I’m 3,0 it makes a lot more sense,” Randle said during a recent practice. “I used to be like, ‘What is this dude talking about?’ And now I get it a lot more. So I try to cherish those things, hold on to those things and I think the true blessing is being able to pass those things on to others.”

Fast forward to this playoff run, and Randle’s role in Minnesota is crucial. While Edwards leads the charge, Randle is the steady hand Coach Chris Finch turns to in tough spots—and he’s been delivering. Off the court, Randle’s leadership has galvanized younger stars. Anthony Edwards singled him out after Game 3: “That’s what we asked of him—he’s making the game a lot easier for me, so I appreciate having him here”. Veteran Mike Conley echoed this sentiment, noting Randle’s steady voice in the huddle anchors the team whenever the pressure spikes.

It’s the intangibles—Kobe’s relentless work ethic, film-room intensity, and demand for excellence—that have truly defined Randle’s Minnesota metamorphosis. As the Wolves prepare for Game 5, Randle’s “Mamba Mentality” remains the X-factor, fusing Kobe’s words in the past into present triumphs and steering Minnesota toward the franchise’s first conference final in 21 years.