After Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles in April of 2013, the mystique of the Los Angeles Lakers had all but disappeared.
Bryant returned, but his last three seasons were marred by serious injuries and extremely subpar play. The team missed the playoffs in 2014 for the first time in nine years.
Longtime Lakers fans sensed a long drought was starting, but the one positive byproduct was the fact they would have several lottery picks, starting in 2014.
That year, with the seventh overall pick, L.A. took Julius Randle, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward out of the University of Kentucky.
Randle was an interesting prospect. He could post up and play old-school, 1990s-style bully ball, but he could also handle the ball and create his own shot.
Early in his career, he looked like a bull in a china shop. He had trouble avoiding charging fouls, but the talent and potential were undeniable.
Unfortunately, Randle’s rookie season was a disaster. He suffered a fractured tibia in his very first game and missed the rest of the year.
He started to emerge afterward,. In 2018, his fourth season, he was up to 16.1 points and 8 rebounds a game while shooting an impressive 55.8% from the field.
But with LeBron James joining the Lakers that summer, Randle decided to leave as a free agent. He spent a year with the New Orleans Pelicans before heading to the New York Knicks.
Last season, he finally became the best version of himself, putting up 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6 assists per game while hitting 41.1% of his 3-pointers. It earned him his first trip to the All-Star game.
It would’ve been a lot better if the Lakers had gotten something in return for Randle when he left, but at least fans can be happy he has seemingly fully matured in the Big Apple.
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