JULIUS Randle has made the journey from fringe NBA player to two-time All-Star after turning his pudgy belly into a shredded six-pack in a stunning body transformation.

The New York Knicks star was overweight and out of shape early in his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA star Julius Randle lost 20 pounds to transform his body and career
3

NBA star Julius Randle lost 20 pounds to transform his body and careerCredit: instagram/kendrarandle_

He also reduced his body fat from 14% to 6%

3

He also reduced his body fat from 14% to 6%Credit: Getty

Randle has since become a two-time NBA All-Star with the New York Knicks
3

Randle has since become a two-time NBA All-Star with the New York KnicksCredit: Getty
But he has turned his round stomach into washboard abs and developed huge upper body strength with the help of personal professional trainer Amoila Cesar.

Cesar helped the NBA star reduce his body fat from 14% to 6% and cut his overall weight by nearly 20 pounds, from 260 pounds to 240 pounds.

The results speak for themselves, with Randle being named an All-Star in 2021 and 2023, and being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2021.

After Randle’s breakthrough season in 2020-21 – when he averaged 24.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game – the Knicks gave the power forward a four-year, $117 million extension.

“I broke Julius’s program down into three pillars: the hypertrophy and strength phase, an agility phase, and a recovery/mobility phase,” Cesar told Men’s Fitness.

“Our focus was to make Julius’s body more agile and athletic; improve Julius’s speed while rebounding and defending; and boost his explosive power to the rim while taking contact.

“I knew aesthetically he would look amazing as we progressed, but the most important part was making sure the athleticism and strength in his lower body improved every week.”

To achieve his body transformation, Randle worked out five days per week over a 12-week boot camp during the summer of 2017.

Training sessions started at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, and lasted at least 90 minutes, with each workout including a one-mile run as a warmup.

Following his weight training, Randle would then spend at least two hours doing basketball drills.

Randle was sent to a sports chiropractor and would also undergo cryotherapy treatments on a weekly basis.

“It was tough, but we worked hard,” Randle said.

“We did a lot of unconventional movements that I’ve never done before, but they paid off for me.

“A lot of the focus was gaining more power and strength in my hips, glutes, legs, and core.”

Randle has also completely changed his diet and his now extremely conscious about what he eats.

“For me, as a 19-year-old kid going to LA? I ate whatever I wanted. I ate all the fast foods, the sweets – that was nothing to me,” he told GQ.

“I have chef Adam [Lajara]. Every day that he’s cooking for me, it’s the best kind of food and ingredients.

“It’s the best kind of meat for my protein, the best vegetables and options for carbs.

“It’s not also just about what you eat, it’s also how you cook your food.

“The ingredients are very important, like what type of oil you’re using, and I try to stay away from sugar as much as I can – I have a sweet tooth.

“I can definitely feel the difference with what I put into my body now, as far as how I wake up, the type of energy I have, how I feel going into games.”

Randle does indulge himself on ‘cheat days’ though.

“I’m a Southern boy, so I’ll definitely do some Southern comfort food,” he added.

“But I also love Italian food. I’ll have a chicken alfredo. Love the pastas.

“I’m from Dallas, so Tex-Mex is huge. I’ll do some Mexican food.

“I have a couple of different options when it comes to cheat days.”