Julius Randle Inspired by Kobe Bryant to Swim with Sharks

NEW YORK – Julius Randle, now a forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday during a break in the New York road games. Randle, who played for the New York Knicks from 2019 to 2024, surprised Fallon with a special gift: a “Black Trees” Classic Edition jersey reminiscent of the team’s history during the Kevin Garnett era.

Fallon was excited about the jersey, exclaiming, “Are you kidding me? I’m going to frame this!” This moment capped off a lively nearly five-minute segment that touched on various topics, including Randle’s recent fatherhood and his thrilling experience swimming with sharks in Hawaii.

During the segment, Fallon humorously questioned Randle’s decision to swim with sharks. “What’s wrong with you? You’re an American treasure. You can’t do stuff like that,” he said, after sharing video footage of Randle’s underwater adventure.

Randle explained that his daring choice was inspired by his conversations with the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who often swam with sharks in South Africa. This connection highlighted the influence of Bryant on Randle’s life and choices.

The NBA has increasingly blurred the lines between sports and entertainment, especially with the resurgence of prime-time basketball coverage on NBC. Randle’s appearance is part of a trend where NBA stars have made recent visits to the show, with notable players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Allen Iverson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Trae Young making their mark.

Randle’s engaging conversation with Fallon showcased the lighter side of NBA culture and emphasized the growing relationship between basketball and entertainment.