Julius Randle will never get enough credit for key area of his impact

Julius Randle has been a controversial player among Minnesota Timberwolves fans recently. Even as somebody who is generally a Randle defender, I acknowledge that he has certain downsides. However, one aspect of Randle's game that I don't think he gets enough credit for is his playmaking.

On the season, Randle is averaging a team-leading 5.9 assists and has been central to the Wolves' point guard-by-committee approach. There wasn't a game that better exemplified Randle's stellar playmaking than Monday night against the Chicago Bulls. Randle dished out 14 assists and zero turnovers en route to a 136-101 win. He impressively became the first player this season to record such a stat line. Furthermore, the Wolves are now 4-1 when Randle records double-digit assists.

Randle took 11 shots and chipped in 17 points, which were both below his season averages. However, he let the game come to him and set up a lot of the Wolves' offense both on high-post actions, as well as drive-and-kick plays. This mindset led to the Wolves' offense flowing better than it has all season. The Wolves notably posted a 132 offensive rating for the game.

Randle's playmaking opens up the Wolves' offense

A massive part of Randle's impact as a playmaker is connected to his gravity as a scorer. Randle is one of the league's best isolation scorers who constantly abuses mismatches. His bully-ball style of play often draws double teams, and he frequently finds the open man, whether that's a shooter or a cutter. Per the ALL NBA podcast, among actions with 150 possessions, Randle isolations rank second in the league.

Randle's elite scoring and ability to create for himself make him the ideal complement to Anthony Edwards. Likewise, Randle's playmaking opens up shots for Edwards on the perimeter. Beyond his scoring gravity, opening up playmaking opportunities, and uplifting the overall offense, Randle deserves more credit for his high basketball IQ and ability to make the right reads.

I get it, he's had some moments where he's struggled to take care of the ball, most notably the Western Conference finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Regardless, Randle more often than not makes the right play. Currently, he has a 12.1 turnover percentage, which is the second-best mark of his career, while taking on more ball-handling duties.

Obviously, Randle isn't a point guard, but there's no denying he's one of the best point forwards in the league. For a Timberwolves squad that lacks playmaking and secondary creation, Randle's skill set is vital. It's not a coincidence that the Wolves' offense is 13.3 points per 100 possessions with Randle on the court. This incredible on/off swing ranks first on the team by an immense margin, and per Cleaning the Glass, it puts Randle in the 98th percentile.

Too often, people focus on Randle's flaws, but he rarely gets his proper praise for his incredible offensive abilities. Undoubtedly, Randle's playmaking is the most underdiscussed aspect of his impact.