Julius Randle didn’t say a word when he soared down the court, took one dribble, and launched himself just outside the restricted area. He didn’t need to. The windmill dunk - spun 180 degrees in his left hand and hammered home with authority - said everything.
That was a message. A statement. And maybe even a little payback.
It was Randle’s first windmill since his high school days at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. But this wasn’t about nostalgia.
It was about making sure the league - and maybe the All-Star selection committee - knew exactly what they were missing. Randle dropped 41 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, his highest-scoring game in a Timberwolves uniform, and led Minnesota to a 133-109 win.
After the game, head coach Chris Finch didn’t dance around the topic.
“I know he was disappointed that he wasn’t named an All-Star,” Finch said. “I think he took this game quite personally in that regard.”
Randle’s Instagram post later that night featured clips and photos of the dunk, captioned simply: “Receipt keeper 📝.”
No subtweets. No interviews. Just buckets - and a not-so-subtle reminder that he’s keeping track.
Randle had hoped to be part of Team USA during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. But his performance against Portland wasn’t just about proving he belonged on that stage. It was about showing he’s already playing at that level - and doing it when his team needed him most.
The reaction from his teammates said it all. Anthony Edwards, Bones Hyland, and Joe Ingles mobbed him at halfcourt after the dunk, celebrating like a group that’s been through the highs and lows together. And lately, there’ve been plenty of both.
Just three days earlier, the Wolves looked like a team in disarray. They were flat in a 115-96 home loss to the Clippers - their eighth loss in 13 games.
During that stretch, Minnesota ranked 21st in offensive rating (113.4) and 15th in defensive rating (114). Five of those losses came against teams below .500.
The Wolves weren’t just losing - they looked disconnected.
“You can feel the energy and the difference when we’re all connected, and we are all focused and on one mission and on the same page,” Randle said. “And you can feel the difference when it’s not. That’s why we have these ups and downs as a team.”
Even as the team struggled, Randle’s numbers stayed solid. He averaged 21.7 points over those 13 games, shooting 55.3% from inside the arc.
But some of his advanced metrics dipped - perhaps a result of swirling trade rumors. Still, on the floor, he kept showing up.
This season, Randle is averaging 22.3 points on 56.3% shooting from two-point range and dishing out 5.4 assists per game - his highest assist average since his All-Star campaign with the Knicks in 2020-21. That year, he made the All-NBA Second Team and won Most Improved Player.
This year, he’s quietly been one of the league’s most effective playmakers at the forward position. He’s created 810 points off assists - fifth-most among all forwards.
The four players ahead of him? Three are All-Stars: Jalen Johnson, Luka Dončić, and Deni Avdija.
In many ways, Randle has been Minnesota’s de facto point guard. He’s initiating the offense, finding teammates for open threes, and exploiting mismatches - whether it’s taking slower defenders off the dribble or bullying smaller ones in the post.
His chemistry with Edwards has taken a step forward too. Last season, their offensive games occasionally clashed.
This year, they’re working in sync.
And when the Wolves needed a spark, Randle delivered.
Less than 30 hours after that tough loss to the Clippers, Minnesota faced the Atlanta Hawks. Randle responded with a triple-double: 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists on 8-of-14 shooting. He created 25 points off his assists, committed just one turnover, and helped the Wolves blow out Atlanta, 138-116.
Then came the Portland game - and the exclamation point.
Randle only logged two assists that night, but that wasn’t the assignment. He was out to make a statement. And with 41 points in 33 minutes on 14-of-24 shooting (including 10-of-11 from the line), he made it loud and clear.
That’s the version of Julius Randle the Timberwolves need down the stretch: the one who sets the tone, brings the energy, and takes over when the moment demands it. Because the road ahead isn’t getting any easier.
Minnesota has 26 games left and the third-toughest remaining schedule in the league. Every possession is going to matter.
Every game could swing playoff positioning. And Randle knows it.
“It’s going to be a full-out sprint,” he said. “Every game is going to mean something.
And it’s fun, man. I think this is the part of the year that’s fun because it’s competitive and every game means something.
You just really got to be locked in and focused.”
He’s been here before. Last season, Randle returned from a groin injury in early March and helped push the Wolves to a 17-4 finish. He averaged 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists over that final stretch, shooting 52.3% from the field and nearly 40% from three.
Now, he’s healthy, motivated, and locked in again. And if his recent performances are any indication, he’s ready to carry Minnesota into the final sprint - with a chip on his shoulder and a whole lot of receipts.
“I feel like I should have been there,” Randle said of the All-Star snub. “But over the course of my career, I’ve learned to focus on the things I can control.
And I can’t control that. It is how it is.
But I can control how I help my team win games night in and night out. We got a great team here.
We can compete at the highest level. That’s what I’ll choose to direct my focus.
“I guess I can use that as a little motivation and fuel for the rest of the year.”
The message has been sent. Now it’s time to see how far Randle - and the Wolves - can run with it.