Knowing your enemy is key in any battle. But in the grind of the NBA playoffs? It’s everything! And LeBron James knows this all too well as he gears up to face the Timberwolves in Game 1. However, it takes a lot more out of you to win in the postseason, something that James spoke candidly about. But mere hours away from tipoff, he made it clear: there’s one guy on the Timberwolves who makes them especially dangerous. And no—it’s not Ant-Man.

Quite surprising, considering Anthony Edwards is almost unanimously heralded as the T-Wolves’ biggest star and the biggest threat to their opponents. However, Bron sees another threat brewing. A player who’s reshaped the Wolves’ identity since his arrival. So, who’s he talking about?

Julius Randle. The same guy who led the T-Wolves to a 16-4 record after his return and a former Laker. When asked what Minnesota has done right since Randle’s return, LeBron didn’t miss a beat. “Everything. Very very, you know, a good team and super well-coached,“ James told the media after a Lakers practice.

That’s not just lip service. Randle’s been a problem—reliable buckets, physical presence, veteran edge. And now he’s got extra motivation going up against LeBron.

“The skill level, ability to shoot the ball, and just being more efficient as he has gotten older. That says a lot about him. I mean it’s a challenge, but [I] always look forward to matching up and playing against greats,” said Randle in an interview following a team practice. Translation: he wants all the smoke.

Since being traded for Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle has stepped up big. Entering the 2025 Playoffs, Randle has averaged 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds across 69 games. And his presence on both ends of the floor is a major reason why Minnesota isn’t just showing up to this series—they’re looking to win it.

That said, taking down ‘The King’ won’t be easy. Especially with Luka Doncic backing him up. Still it’s not about matchups or stat lines. LeBron James pulled back the curtains on what it really takes to survive the postseason.

LeBron James confesses to the incredible physical and mental cost of playing in the NBA Playoffs

This is Year 18 in the postseason for LeBron James. He’s only missed the playoffs four times in his career. That kind of mileage? It comes with perspective. In the same post-practice interview, LeBron gave fans a glimpse of the real grind behind the glory.

“Playoffs demand everything from you, mentally,“ the 4x NBA champion noted wearily. “I mean, obviously, the physical toll that it’s gonna take because the games ramp up, the intensity, reps ramps up, the physicality ramps up. The referees in the league allow us to play more physical in the postseason. So your body takes a toll. But mentally, being able to have that mind sharp throughout the course of the series, no matter if it’s good, going good, or going bad. You always gotta try to stay even keeled throughout the course of a postseason, in each series if you’re able to advance,”

This is the part that us fans don’t always see. Everyone in the NBA can hoop. Heck! You and I can hoop! But what separates the legends is how they handle everything else. The fatigue. The pressure. The shifts in momentum. One slip, one bad read, and the whole thing can flip.

Just ask the 2016 Warriors. They were up 3-1 in the Finals—until Draymond Green got suspended for Game 5. The rest, as we know, is history. LeBron’s history. And that’s how quick the postseason can turn.

And that’s why this matchup—LeBron vs. Julius, Wolves vs. Lakers—has so much juice. It’s not just about basketball. It’s about endurance. Focus. Who bends, and who breaks. Saturday’s tip-off can’t come soon enough!