It has never been easy for Los Angeles Lakers big man Julius Randle.
After leading Kentucky to the NCAA national championship game with a double-double season, he fell to No. 7 in a not particularly talented 2014 NBA Draft. He was getting by-passed because of some concerns raised by a past foot injury.
He landed in L.A. as the 7th pick, supposed to be the new blood that would help reinvigorate the Lakers dynasty and helped transition through Kobe Bryant’s sunset providing talent for the near Kobe-less future.
Fate, however, was lying in wait.