Julius Randle’s wife, Kendra, has opened up about the difficulties of her husband being traded after the Knicks sent the All-Star forward to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns on Friday, just days before the start of training camp.
Kendra explained Tuesday in a TikTok video what’s been going on in the couple’s world since they learned Randle was traded for the first time in his 11-year NBA career — and “the hardest part” about the transition.
“Touch up my hair and makeup with me while I tell you guys what it’s like to be traded from an NBA team as a first timer,” Kendra began.
“… I’m really grateful that it’s actually not in the middle of the season, like before the deadline or whatever. But it has been pretty crazy for our first time and unexpected.
“And I’m not gonna lie, when we heard Minnesota it was pretty shocking, although we were ready to leave New York.
“Living in a condo with two kids is so hard. I don’t care what anyone says. It was a great experience, but we were already looking to move outside the city. It was just getting so hard and overwhelming for us because my husband is from Texas and I’m from Kentucky and that’s just not how we grew up.
Kendra said their sons — Kyden, 7, and 2-year-old Jayce — are excited for this new chapter in the Midwest, but there have been challenges.
“The hardest part by far was telling our 7-year-old that he had to leave his school and friends. That was the hardest conversation and honestly the hardest part for Julius and I too [was] leaving that community. That school is incredible [and] the parents,” she said.
Kendra added that NBA trades are hard on families, especially kids.
“Everyone is just so sad that he is leaving,” she said. “So that’s the really hard part about the NBA and the family aspect of it is that it affects all of the kids, the whole family — and they have to uproot their life.
“As adults we can deal with it and move on but for kids it’s really tough. So now this is kind of the first time that we are understanding and living it. That is by far the hardest part.
“Other than that we’re super blessed and can just deal with it and have the means to go and do it. So I don’t really have any complaints, I’m just super grateful for this new chapter for our family.”
The trade news nearly broke the internet on Friday, when the Knicks agreed to send Randle, guard Donte DiVincenzo, forward Keita Bates-Diop and a lottery-protected 2025 first-round draft pick to Minnesota for Towns; the deal became official Wednesday afternoon.
The Hornets received three second-round picks (two via New York and one via Minnesota), along with DaQuan Jeffries, Charlie Brown and Duane Washington Jr. and $7.2 million cash.
Charlotte also traded James Nnaji, the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, to New York to complete the Towns-Randle blockbuster.
Randle, in his 11th NBA season, is playing on the final year of his deal.
Kendra went on to explain that the couple took a plane to Minnesota the day after the trade to look for a home and schools for their sons, while their home in New York was being packed up.
“We love it. It’s so beautiful the people are so nice,” she said of Minnesota. “There are so many nice restaurants… I heard they make the most of the snow here.”
Kendra also shared a tribute commemorating their time in New York on Instagram.
The All-Star forward was productive despite being limited due to injuries last season.
In 46 games, Randle averaged 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Minnesota finished the 2023 regular season with a 56-26 record — third in the Western Conference — and reached the conference finals for just the second time in franchise history last season.
The Timberwolves open the 2024 preseason against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday.
