It took Julius Randle nearly a decade to understand what Kobe Bryant was trying to make him understand.
For 20 years, the Los Angeles Lakers had the services of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. During his tenure, the Mamba helped the Lakers win five NBA Championships.
However, during the twilight years of his career, Bryant shifted into a mentor role and tried to pass on his learning to the then-young core of the Purple and Gold.
The core featured a young Julius Randle, who was drafted as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Despite Bryant’s best efforts, Randle and co. hardly understood his teachings.
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesJulius Randle has finally understood Kobe Bryant’s teachings
Over the years, Randle has grown into a solid star in the NBA. He truly broke out as a star during his stint with the New York Knicks.
Randle has carried that form into his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the team eliminating the Lakers in the first round, Randle recently revealed where he stands on Bryant’s teachings.
“The further I go in my career, the different experiences I have, the things that he passed down to me, the things that I learned from him [Kobe Bryant],” Randle told reporters.
He added: “It may have not made sense when I was 19 or 20 years old but now that I’m 30 it makes a lot more sense.”
However, it isn’t just about personal growth for Randle. After all, he is now at a stage in his career where the young players on the roster look up to him as a veteran.
Julius Randle speaks on his appreciation of Kobe Bryant growing with age
“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 30 it makes a lot more sense(smiling). I used to be like… pic.twitter.com/LJzPCRkT6W
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) May 4, 2025
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Randle wants to ‘cherish’ Bryant’s teachings and pass them on
Part of being a good veteran is to ensure that the next generation of basketball players learn from their mistakes.
Randle mentioned that he has grown as a player thanks to Bryant’s teachings, he is passing them on to the next generation of hoopers.
“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 other,” he concluded.
Randle looked calm and composed, which is a great sign as the road to the 2025 NBA Finals won’t be easy for the Timberwolves.
Next, they will face off against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, a team full of veterans and stars who have an abundance of playoff experience.