MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season, but it’s the first time Julius Randle has gotten this far in his 11th NBA season.
Speaking at Timberwolves’ shootaround Tuesday morning ahead of Game 1 at the Oklahoma City Thunder, Randle shared a conversation he had with Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Semifinals. After the Timberwolves beat the Warriors in Game 3 to go up 2-1 in the series, Randle told Green he had an appreciation for the Warriors’ greatness.
Green has four NBA rings, all with the Warriors. At this point in the playoffs, players on teams that have been eliminated are either on vacation, or already preparing for next season.
What they’re saying:
“I’m excited man, I just have a really great appreciation for these things. Cherishing these moments,” Randle said. “I was thinking about it after we had won our third game of the series in San Fran. I’m like ‘S**t, this is a grind.’ You get to this point of the season, it’s really a grind. For me being here my first time, it’s been a grind to get here. I’m just enjoying the moment.”
Randle is playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in 10 playoff games with the Timbrewolves.
Family rivalry for Nickeil Alexander-Walker
What we know:
The trash talking started Sunday, as soon as the Thunder eliminated the Denver Nuggets. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are cousins. Alexander-Walker’s mother sent a text to Gilgeous-Alexander’s dad.
“Sunday my Mom called me, she texted his dad saying, ‘Oh it’s war now.’ It’s all love at the end of the day. It’s really cool, if I go on my phone it’s the only thing I see,” Alexander-Walker said. “Ten years from now, 20 years from now I’ll be able to really appreciate the moment for what it was. In this time the only thing I care about is making sure the Wolves get four wins.”
How to watch Game 1
The Timberwolves and Thunder tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Oklahoma City. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. The two teams split the regular season 2-2.
The Source: Julius Randle and Nickeil Alexander-Walker spoke with reporters after Tuesday’s morning shootaround ahead of Game 1.
