The website HoopsHype has been churning out its player rankings by position for the 2025-26 season. It came as no surprise when they listed Anthony Edwards as the game’s best shooting guard. Recently, HoopsHype posted its list of the top 26 power forwards. Julius Randle is fairly ranked as one of the NBA’s better power forwards after a strong first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
HoopsHype considers Julius Randle as the seventh-best power forward
Throughout his career, specifically with the Knicks, Randle has been recognized as one of the game’s top players. He has been made three All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams (one second, one third), and was named the 2020-21 Most Improved Player. Despite those accomplishments, often when overall player rankings are done, Randle seems to be further down the list than where he should be, sometimes even outside the top 50 players. That could be due in part because of Randle's well-documented postseason struggles with New York.
Now 30 years old, Randle performed much better in last season’s playoffs, particularly in the first two rounds before running into the elite Thunder defense. HoopsHype took note of this and placed the 11-year veteran as the seventh-best power forward in the NBA.
In his 69 outings last season, the 6-foot-9 power forward posted averages of 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. In Randle’s 15 playoff appearances, that scoring average increased to 21.7.
Randle is deservedly ahead of Zion Williamson
It shouldn’t shock anyone who finished atop the best power forwards list. That would be Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP.
In order from second to sixth are Pascal Siakam, Paolo Banchero, Evan Mobley, Anthony Davis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. It may surprise some to see Siakam second on the list, but he has played such a large role on a Pacers team that has reached the Eastern Conference finals and NBA finals the last two years.
Deservedly so, Randle is ahead of the eighth-ranked power forward, Zion Williamson. Undoubtedly based on raw talent, Williamson could be second on this list, or maybe third if you believe Davis is the better player. Of course, availability matters, and Zion has played just 214 games in six years.
Perhaps it can be argued that Randle should be ahead of Jackson Jr., although the latter was seen as potentially being the favorite to win his second Defensive Player of the Year before he went down in March with an ankle injury. Randle re-signed with the Timberwolves this offseason on a three-year, $100 million deal. Entering his second season with the team, Randle is poised to continue his stellar play.