Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle is living in a whirlwind of playoff success and personal joy. Days after helping knock his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, out of the playoffs in five games, Randle became a father for the third time. But just when fans thought the fairytale couldn’t get any more cinematic, his wife, Kendra Randle, made headlines of her own—by joining the Timberwolves’ anti-Lakers celebration only days after giving birth.
On Instagram, Kendra posted a photo of herself flashing the iconic “wolves in five” caption, rallying behind Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves’ revenge tour. But while fans were hyped, nobody seemed more stunned than her husband. “You just had a baby??? DAMN MAMA ,” Julius wrote in the comments, clearly blown away by his wife’s post-pregnancy energy and Timberwolves spirit.
While the basketball world was buzzing about Randle’s on-court resurgence, he was also soaking in fatherhood. Just a few days before Kendra posted her viral “wolves in five” Instagram moment, she gave birth to their third child, Romi Joelle. The timing couldn’t have been more poetic—Randle’s first deep postseason run in nearly two years, coinciding with the arrival of what he now calls his “good luck charm.”
“Our baby girl, Romi Joelle is here I hope everyone had an amazing Easter- Randle party of 5 ,” Kendra shared earlier this month. Julius followed with a heartwarming post featuring black-and-white photos of the family, writing: “Romi Joelle You got daddy’s heart. Two big brothers that will always protect you. And the perfect example in mommy to look up to. We love you princess .”
NBA stars like Trae Young and Terance Mann showed love in the comments, but the best reaction came from Jayce, one of Romi’s big brothers. In one of Kendra’s posts, the toddler could be seen holding Romi with a serious expression—Kendra explained, “He was mad at me because he wants to hold the baby 24/7 so none of us do.”
In another picture, taken by one of the boys, Kendra was passed out next to Romi, revealing, “Newborn lifeBut I’m actually exhausted from Jayce lol.”
Edwards Roasts Media, Wolves Torch Lakers
After Minnesota’s 103-96 Game 5 win over the Lakers, Anthony Edwards didn’t waste time soaking in the moment. Sitting beside Randle in the post-game press conference, he clapped back at media expectations with a grin.
“You know what makes it feel even better?” Edwards asked. “They said Lakers in five, and the Wolves won in five. That makes it feel ten times better. That’s my only answer.”
The Wolves were underdogs in Vegas and among analysts. Yet, their elite depth and adaptability overwhelmed the Lakers. Chris Finch’s squad regularly closed with lineups that didn’t even start the game—like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid—proving their rotation had no weak links.
Edwards emphasized that strength: “I feel like our bench is almost better than our starting five.”
Oct 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates his basket with forward Julius Randle (30) against the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Finch constantly adjusted. When the Lakers tried to exploit Mike Conley, in came Alexander-Walker. If Jaden McDaniels struggled offensively, DiVincenzo took over. And when Rudy Gobert faltered, Reid was ready. That flexibility defined Minnesota’s dominance.
At one point, the Wolves countered a small Lakers lineup by going even smaller, with Randle at center, and scored 7 points in just 2 minutes. One of their most efficient lineups, featuring Randle, Reid, McDaniels, Edwards, and DiVincenzo, posted a +27 in just 22 minutes.
In contrast, the Lakers had four lineups that logged 10+ minutes in the series, and all of them had negative net ratings. Flexibility was the name of the game, and the Wolves played it better.
As Julius Randle juggles fatherhood and the playoff grind, the Randle household continues to win both on and off the court. With Kendra rallying behind Minnesota’s run, barely missing a beat after giving birth, it’s clear the Timberwolves aren’t the only unit thriving through chemistry and depth. If the Wolves do go all the way, don’t be surprised if Romi Joelle becomes the unofficial team mascot. After all, this postseason magic feels like it’s got Randle DNA all over it.
The post Julius Randle Can’t Believe His Eyes as Wife Kendall Helps Anthony Edwards’ Anti-Lakers Campaign After Giving Birth appeared first on EssentiallySports.