Every NBA postseason, we see a couple of players go on a slump at the worst possible time. This year, it includes Julius Randle, which is becoming a theme for him.

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the Western Conference semifinals expecting Randle to be the reliable second scorer behind Anthony Edwards. Instead, they are down 3-2 in the series largely because that second option has turned dud performances.

Randle had a strong regular season and, for stretches, looked like a fine co-star for Edwards. He brought physicality, secondary playmaking, rebounding, and enough scoring punch to keep defenses honest. But this series has exposed every concern critics have ever had about his postseason game.

Through five games, Randle is averaging just 14.8 points while shooting a miserable 36.6% from the field and 21.1% from three-point range. The numbers alone are ugly, but the eye test somehow looks worse. Possessions stall when the ball finds him. His drives have lacked burst and decisiveness. His jumpers have been rushed, contested, or flat-out off target.

Of course, credit also belongs to San Antonio’s defense. The Spurs have the personnel (even if you subtract Victor Wembanyama in the equation) and are throwing waves of length, discipline, and physicality at him all series long. They’ve crowded his driving lanes, forced him into difficult pull-ups, and made every touch feel uncomfortable. Whenever Minnesota tries to generate rhythm offensively, San Antonio has managed to turn Randle into a reluctant jump shooter instead of a downhill force.

The frustrating part for Minnesota is that the struggles are not limited to offense. Randle has not provided much defensive resistance either. Rotations have been late, effort has fluctuated, and the Timberwolves have not consistently gotten the energy they expected from a veteran forward in a crucial playoff series. When your supposed No. 2 option is struggling on both ends, winning four games against a disciplined Spurs team becomes nearly impossible.

Unfortunately for Randle, this is becoming a familiar playoff script.

Fans still remember his disastrous 2021 postseason with the New York Knicks, when New York entered the series favored against the Atlanta Hawks only to lose in five games. Randle shot an abysmal 29.8% in that series and looked overwhelmed by Atlanta’s defensive pressure. Even during last season’s playoff run with Minnesota, there were moments where his inconsistency became impossible to ignore. That history is exactly why the next game matters so much.

The Timberwolves are still alive. As bleak as this series has looked for Randle, redemption is still sitting on the table. One great game does not erase years of playoff criticism, but it can change the direction of a series and maybe even reshape the narrative surrounding him.

The challenge is enormous now. Against this Spurs defense, it may be tougher than ever. But if Randle wants to prove he can be trusted when the stakes rise, the stage is set. They are facing elimination in Game 6.