Julius Randle became a fan favorite during his five years with the New York Knicks.
But his time in New York came to an abrupt end last week when the NBA veteran was included in a blockbuster trade.
The multi-team trade sent Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for four-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. Randle’s wife, Kendra, reacted to her husband’s surprising move to the “City of Lakes.”
“When we heard from Minnesota, it was pretty shocking,” he said in a video posted to his TikTok account. “Even though we were ready to leave New York, living in a condo with two kids is very difficult.”
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Kendra also noted that a move to the Midwest or another part of the U.S. was already being considered, citing the Randle family’s openness to a different lifestyle.
“It was a great experience, but we were already thinking about moving out of the city,” he explained. “It was becoming very difficult and overwhelming for us because my husband is from Texas and I’m from Kentucky, and that’s not how we grew up.”
The trade gave the Timberwolves a top-13 protected first-round pick next year from the Knicks via the Detroit Pistons, ESPN reported. The Charlotte Hornets were also included in the trade and received draft compensation because the franchise helped make the financial terms of the deal work.
KNICKS STARS HILARIOUSLY ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT REPORTED BLOCKBUSTER TRADE: ‘WHO IS KARL?’
On Tuesday, Kendra reflected on her family’s time in New York.
“NEW YORK! Thank you for these incredible 5 years.” Kendra wrote on Instagram. “You welcomed our family and made living in New York so much easier and fun. I’m so grateful that Kyden grew up at @thegarden and we had that experience as a family.
“Even though we were going crazy in our condo and are ready for our next chapter as a family, I will always be grateful for our 5 years there. To my husband, you came and changed the culture and brought victory back to New York. “.
The 2024-25 NBA season will mark Randle’s 11th in the league. The recent trade was the first time in the veteran forward’s career that he was included in a trade.
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Randle’s 2023-24 season ended early due to an injury that required shoulder surgery.
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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
