Julius Randle makes telling ‘wanted’ comment after Knicks trade

Julius Randle dropped “blood, sweat and tears” for the Knicks before being shocked by the trade to the Timberwolves, but the power forward has already felt his new team has offered a “breath of fresh air.”

“It’s super important, you want to be somewhere where you feel wanted,” Randle said. “And I feel wanted here. I feel like everybody has really embraced me.”

Randle, who spent five roller-coaster seasons with the Knicks, developed into the franchise’s greatest player since Carmelo Anthony.

He earned three All-Star appearances, two All-Star bids and reached No. 17 on the team’s all-time scoring list.

But Randle was also eligible for an extension that wasn’t coming and some people in the organization felt he wasn’t a good fit alongside Jalen Brunson.

Just two days after Randle was honored at the groundbreaking of a South Bronx high school – a ceremony attended by the Knicks front office – news leaked that he was dealt with Donte DiVincenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns. 

“It was a lot of emotion. You spend a lot of time in a place, New York, going there five years ago and having a goal in mind to accomplish great things. A lot of blood, sweat and tears put into that organization and uniform,” Randle said. “So initially it’s always going to be a shock. But for me, afterwards, I woke up the next morning and I was just really, really excited. A breath of fresh air.”

Randle was also excited for the reunion with Minnesota coach Chris Finch, who guided the All-Star as an assistant for a season in New Orleans in 2018-19. Randle said Finch simplified the game in a way no other coach had done previously or afterwards, including Tom Thibodeau.

“When I left Finch in New Orleans, I wanted him in New York with me. Because he is such a great coach. I always thought he was a genius. He’s a great communicator. Knows how to get the best out of his players,” Randle said. “I just felt he opened up my game and I became a really versatile player. Playing there, and even still to this point, that was the easiest my game ever felt. Because he’s really that good.” 

Randle added that his surgically repaired shoulder “is fine” and “I’m healthy.” He can become a free agent in the summer.

“I want to be here,” Randle said.

DiVincenzo only played one season with the Knicks but became a fan favorite and knocked down one of the biggest shots in recent franchise history, a 3-pointer to bury the Sixers in Game 2 of the first round.

Although the acquisition of Mikal Bridges meant DiVincenzo was likely to come off the bench next season, a source said he would’ve embraced that role and didn’t want to leave the Knicks.

“When you look at the big picture, my mind wasn’t on what teams were interested in me. When I was in New York, I was fully there. I wanted to be there. And when this kind of picked up, I realized it was an opportunity. And when it became an actual thing, my mind just completely went straight to Minnesota,” DiVincenzo said. “And I immediately thanked everybody from my time in New York. There’s so much love there. But once I realized this is a real thing and actually happened, my mind transitioned to Minnesota. And I’m 100 percent here and excited.”