‘Craziest Experience of My Life’ -- 3-Time NBA All-Star Tells Wild Story of Flying Private on Billionaire’s AAU Team at Age-11

The story of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle flying on a private jet for AAU basketball games at age 11 has resurfaced, highlighting extreme investments in youth sports amid ongoing scrutiny of team valuations. This follows a recent New York Times examination of youth sports economics.

Randle detailed the experience during a November 2024 appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, where hosts referenced his childhood team's private air travel. He clarified that the luxury stemmed not from team prowess but from billionaire Ken Troutt founding the Texas Titans AAU squad for his sons, with Randle joining as a teammate.

The Texas Titans, established by Excel Communications founder Troutt, gained notoriety for operating "like an NBA team" according to former Spurs player Avery Johnson, whose son also played for them. Troutt’s investment covered all expenses—including using the Dallas Mavericks' private plane—eliminating costs for players and families.

Randle emphasized this support’s profound impact, noting his single mother struggled with typical AAU fees. The fully funded travel, hotels, and parental accommodations allowed him to "dominate" his age group unburdened, calling it "the craziest experience" of his life.

The article concludes by contextualizing Randle’s current NBA performance, citing his 18.7-point average and seven rebounds per game for Minnesota last season. He and Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the champion Oklahoma City Thunder.