Julius Randle apologized to the New York Knicks fans for giving them a thumbs-down gesture and using an NSFW statement. However, he still lost $25000 by making that choice after being fined by the NBA.
For the New York Knicks in 2020-21, Julius Randle enjoyed a fantastic regular season. He was named to his first All-Star squad and was named Most Improved Player of the Year.
Randle, on the other hand, struggled against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. Despite averaging 18.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, the lefty only shot 29.8% from the floor. Despite losing in five games to the Hawks, the Knicks awarded Randle a four-year, $117.1 million contract extension.
This season, Knicks supporters were expecting Randle to take the next step in his growth and lead the team to another successful season. However, in 2021-22, the Kentucky product has not only been a shadow of himself, but he’s also been chastised by fans for his terrible performance, and his frustrations finally got the better of him on January 6 against the Boston Celtics.
To Knicks supporters, Julius Randle made a thumbs-down motion.
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After scoring a layup halfway through the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ triumph against the Celtics on January 6, Randle gave supporters at Madison Square Garden a thumbs-down gesture. During the first half of the game, the All-Star forward was booed, and as the fans yelled “M-V-P” in the fourth quarter, he looked to shake his head.
RJ Barrett’s game-winning shot helped the Knicks defeat the Celtics. Randle ended with 22 points and eight rebounds on 40.0 percent shooting from the field and 25.0 percent from three-point range. “Shut the fu** up,” Randle responded plainly when asked what he meant by his thumbs-down signal to the supporters. The Texas native is visibly irritated by supporters who boo him one minute and then yell “M-V-P” the next.
Randle and his PR team conducted some damage control a day after his thumbs-down gesture and “shut the fu** up” statement went viral.
Julius Randle expressed regret to Knicks fans.
Randle apologized for his thumbs-down gesture to Knicks fans in an Instagram message, saying it was “an example of how sometimes you say things you regret to people you love.”
Randle added, “Just want to offer a brief message to our supporters and be clear – I love NYC and being a part of this team and brand.” “And, like most Knicks fans, I care deeply about our team’s success. My family and I am ecstatic with how the fans and New Yorkers have welcomed us and made us feel fantastic about our choice to sign a long-term contract with the organization this summer. This help is really valuable to us. I recognize that my actions reflect on the league, our organization, and the city, and that in the heat of the moment, I should have handled things better and expressed myself with more professionalism and acceptable words.
“My remark was an example of how you may say things to people you love that you later regret, even though it originated from a place of passion and great love.” Nobody wants to win more than me, and I’ll continue to be devoted and dedicated to my teammates, the whole Knicks organization, and the fans who have shown so much love to me and my family. I’m going to keep my eyes on the prize.”
This season, the Knicks are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings after finishing fourth previous season. Randle is averaging 19.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 42.2 percent overall and 32.4 percent from the three-point line. He’s committing 3.4 turnovers per game, and his 3-point percentage is down more than 8% from previous season.
Randle and the Knicks still have time to turn things around before the end of the season. Randle’s apology, however, did not prevent the NBA from withdrawing money from his pockets.
The big man for the Knicks has been fined $25,000 for his actions.
Julius Randle of the New York Knicks has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for “egregious use of vulgar language during media interviews,” according to the league.
https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP More NBA from me: https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 8, 2022
For his “egregious use of vulgar language,” Randle was fined $25,000. This is the second time this season that the Knicks’ big man has been punished. After the Knicks-Celtics game on opening night, Randle was fined $15,000 for tossing the ball into the stands. In celebration of New York’s double-overtime triumph, he flung the ball.
New York is a difficult place to play in. Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, and Carmelo Anthony have all been booed by the home fans at MSG, despite the fact that they are three of the franchise’s finest players. Randle must realize that as the team’s highest-paid and best player, he is expected to perform well every night.
It’ll be fascinating to watch how Randle and the Knicks perform in the future. If the Knicks start winning like they did last season, the boo birds will vanish. They will, however, stay if the losing continues.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
‘Pissed’ is a term that has been used to describe a person who is upset. Shaquille O’Neal Gives Julius Randle Some Simple Advice: ‘No one is rooting for Goliath.’
