- Kendra Randle responds to Kenyon Martin’s criticism of her husband’s kiss after Knicks’ Game 5 win New York Post
- Stephen A. is done with Julius Randle after Knicks elimination from playoffs by Heat | NBA Countdown ESPN
- Ex-NBA player criticizes Knicks’ Julius Randle for kissing wife right after playoff game Fox News
- LOOK: Knicks fans deface Julius Randle poster outside Madison Square Garden after Game 6 loss to Heat CBS Sports
- Kenyon Martin calls out Julius Randle for choosing wife over team after a Knicks win Marca English
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Tag Archives: Randle
Knicks’ Julius Randle thriving again because of these two factors
This isn’t the Julius Randle of two years ago. It’s more like Julius Randle 2.0.
He may be producing similar numbers to that fantastic season when the bruising yet athletic forward led the Knicks to a surprising fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference, but he is doing so in a different manner.
“The year two years ago obviously he had a great year and a big part of that, I think, was his shooting,” coach Tom Thibodeau said on Tuesday after practice. “It opened up a lot of things for him. But then I think the league sort of caught up and now I think he’s caught up to what they were doing.”
A major part of that change was a different offensive philosophy under Thibodeau predicated on pace and ball movement, and the arrival of new point guard Jalen Brunson. It meant less isolation for Randle and a new focus on playing uptempo.
Randle is rarely bringing the ball up and pounding it into the floor. Instead, he’s getting transition opportunities, shots by moving without the ball and Brunson’s fast start has taken some of the defense’s focus away from Randle. He’s seeing fewer double-teams and getting more open shots.
“His approach has been totally different,” Derrick Rose said. “The way he’s reading the floor is totally different. His passing has been unbelievable, like getting to spots and not forcing shots and understanding that we’re trying to get up a certain amount of 3’s. He’s finding the shooters.”
He’s also made notable adjustments, in particular arriving for training camp leaner and more prepared to get up and down the floor faster. At the start of camp, Randle spoke of his excitement for this new offensive philosophy and teaming up with Brunson, and he has backed up that talk, producing 17 assists and just four turnovers in the preseason. In three regular-season games, he is averaging 21.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and only 1.7 turnovers.
“I’ll say this: Julius is a tremendous athlete and I know from having coached against him what you don’t want to see is Julius flying up the floor, attacking the rim, playing with speed like he’s playing,” Thibodeau said. “You’d rather defend him stationary with the ball. I think because of that, [since] he knows the different things he’s been through, he wants to play fast, and so I think that’s huge. He can help sell it to the rest of the team when he’s moving the way he’s moving. It gets the whole team moving that way.”
Late in Monday’s victory over the Magic the biggest change for the Knicks was on display. A 14-point lead had been cut to six with 4:28 left in the fourth quarter. In past years, it was obvious where the ball was going — to Randle in isolation. Not in this instance. The Knicks ran a high screen-and-roll with Brunson, and it resulted in a made Brunson jumper in which he also drew a foul that iced the game. The Knicks have become less predictable.
“For [Jalen] to take that pressure off me is huge,” Randle said. He added, in general about his play: “I’m just trying to lose myself in the team. Lean on guys like [Brunson], RJ [Barrett], just play for my team. The only thing that matters is winning.”
Brunson, an ego-less lead guard known for making the right play, has had a major impact on Randle. The two started to develop chemistry even before training camp, both of them spending plenty of time in August and early September at the MSG Training Center. It shows. They have played well together, registering a combined plus-30 rating this season.
Brunson recently had Randle and other teammates over to watch a big Eagles-Cowboys game. Brunson roots for the Eagles and Randle is a Cowboys fan. A recent press conference featuring the two players ended with them being asked who will win the NFC East. They both laughed and talked trash about the other’s team.
The only thing the two stars don’t see eye-to-eye on appears to be their favorite football teams.
Julius Randle denies seeking trade from Knicks after hearing boos
Julius Randle heard a fair amount of boos during pregame introductions, but the Knicks’ highest-paid player forcefully denied suggestions that he is seeking a trade in the offseason or that he isn’t committed to the organization long term.
“That’s not true, bro. That’s just not true, simple as that, it’s not true at all,” Randle said Wednesday night. “If it didn’t come from me, it ain’t true.”
Randle scored 21 points with seven assists, but the Knicks couldn’t fully erase a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter as their season-best winning streak was halted at four games in a 125-114 loss to the play-in bound Hornets at the Garden.
The loss dropped the Knicks’ tragic number for elimination from play-in contention to one with five games remaining, after the No. 10 Hawks’ blowout victory in Oklahoma City.
“Just keep concentrating on what we’re doing and get better, and then you’re not eliminated until you’re eliminated,” Tom Thibodeau said. “And then when you are, you assess what you want to get done.”
Randle’s intermittent frustration and unhappiness has been evidenced by various instances this season, including a thumbs-down gesture and profane quotes directed at fans and multiple blowups with officials.
This year has been a far cry from the two-way love affair Randle enjoyed with New York one season ago, when he was named an All-Star for the first time in his career and the NBA’s Most Improved Player, earning him a four-year contract extension worth $117 million.
The Post reported Wednesday that there are some around the league who believe that Randle has been acting in a “James Harden type of way,” suggesting that he could attempt to force a trade in the offseason.
Thibodeau was incredulous when asked about a further claim by a local radio host this week — which was couched as an “unconfirmed rumor” — that Randle already had expressed that he wanted out following Monday’s victory over Chicago at the Garden
Asked directly if he believes that Randle “wants to be here,” Thibodeau replied: “Yeah. So as a coach, you coach the players that you have. And you love them all. And I do. If you play for me, I love you. It’s really that simple. The challenge for us is to bring the best out of each other.”
Randle previously had asserted his commitment earlier this season, but he stressed after the game: “My answer ain’t changing, bro.”
“My goal and what I work hard for is to make the city proud and make the fans proud,” he said. “I play for my teammates; I play for my family, and it is as simple as that. It is nothing more than that. From the inside looking out, it is what it is, and I understand that a lot of times you have to do your game, do the talking, but I love this city, my family loves it here and I love being a Knick.”
Randle has been fined over $100,000 by the league this season for various infractions, including for saying “shut the f–k up” in a January press conference to explain his use of a thumbs-down gesture to booing fans at one game at the Garden.
Randle also threw the ball away and walked directly into the locker room following Monday’s win. He scored five points on 1-for-9 shooting in that game, and fans had chanted once again for understudy Obi Toppin.
Randle admitted the boos and chants have been toughest on his 5-year-old son, Kyden, and his family.
“That’s probably where most of my frustration comes from. I have my 5-year-old son that’s there, who is obsessed with the game of basketball, loves the game of basketball and he doesn’t understand what’s going on,” Randle said. “That’s probably my biggest frustration — coming from him.
“But at the same time, you have to understand it comes with the territory. The narrative can always flip. I understand that. I understand it’s New York City. I understand how passionate our fans are. You just kind of have to live with the good and the bad.”
Following the pregame boos, Randle seemingly got the home crowd back on his side by nailing two early 3-pointers, and the Knicks shot 61.9 percent from the floor in trailing 31-29 through one quarter. RJ Barrett finished the first half with 17 points to keep the Knicks within three, 58-55 at intermission
The Knicks trailed by a dozen, 95-83, with 10:31 remaining, but a dunk by Barrett and a converted three-point play by Immanuel Quickley (16 points) pulled them within two with just under six minutes to go. But a windmill slam and a corner 3 by Bridges extended the Charlotte cushion back to 11 in the closing minutes.
“I thought we were a step behind all night, and I thought the ball got where they wanted it to,” Thibodeau said. “We didn’t feel good about the way we were playing defensively all night.”
Knicks’ Julius Randle shed tears over Kenny Payne’s departure
At Friday’s introductory press conference in Louisville, former Knicks assistant coach Kenny Payne said he, Knicks president Leon Rose and senior advisor William Wesley had “cried six, seven times a day’’ over his decision to leave for his alma mater.
Payne left out Julius Randle, the former Kentucky stud whom Payne recruited out of Dallas to be part of the Wildcats’ No. 1-ranked class in 2013.
“Selfishly, it made me sick,’’ Randle said Friday night after the Knicks topped the Wizards, 100-97, at the Garden. “I cried twice, to be honest with you. It made me sick, because I didn’t want him to leave but at the same time I wanted him to go. I never told him that. But he had to.
“What he did for us in general, the Knicks, is incredible — from player development to managing personalities. Personally, it goes a lot deeper, man. You talk about a young kid from Dallas. Me and my mother. I’m a 17-year-old kid. He came in my house. But my mom sending me away, her only boy? He came to my house and told my mom, ‘I got you. You got nothing to worry about.’ He took me in like I was his own kid and really looked after me.”
When coach Tom Thibodeau reminisced about Payne’s nearly two-season stint as Knicks assistant, it was his work with Randle at the forefront.
When Payne came aboard for the 2020-21 season, the 6-foot-8 power forward earned the Most Improved Player Award, became a first-time All-Star and was named Second Team All-NBA. Randle regressed this season, but still is averaging a 20.4 points and 9.9 rebounds.
Wesley, who has strong ties to the Kentucky program, hired Payne even though Thibodeau didn’t know him.
“The relationship, probably with Julius,’’ Thibodeau said of Payne’s contribution. “The main thing was the player development end with Julius, the energy, the love for the game.’’
With Payne gone, assistant coach Darren Erman, who first worked with Thibodeau when they were both assistants in Boston in 2008, will move to the front row of the bench. It had been a point of contention last season, according a source, when Thibodeau’s guys Andy Greer and Erman sat in the second row while Mike Woodson, Johnnie Bryant and Payne were in front.
“We have a lot of young coaches who are really talented and they’ll step in and they’re ready for more,’’ Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau gave kudos to Knicks owner Jim Dolan
“I want to start by thanking [Dolan] for allowing him to go,’’ Thibodeau said. “We’re thrilled for him.’’
Thibodeau started his pregame press conference by giving condolences to the family of Cavaliers scout Tom Barrise, who passed away Friday of cancer. Barrise was Thibodeau’s advance scout in Chicago and a longtime Nets scout who served briefly there as interim coach in 2009.
“Just a great basketball guy,’’ Thibodeau said. “Just sad news.’’
Based in New Jersey, Barrise scouted several Knicks games at the Garden this season for the Cavaliers.
Julius Randle ejected for altercation with Cameron Johnson
Julius Randle was ejected from the Knicks’ game against the Suns.
With 2:30 left in the third quarter, Randle and the Suns’ Cameron Johnson collided as Randle attempted to box Johnson out on Evan Fournier’s three-point shot. After the shot, Randle stormed into Johnson’s chest. After referee Dedric Taylor attempted to break the two up, Randle stormed back, making contact with the Taylor, and shoved Johnson.
Randle and Johnson were issued double technicals for their initial altercation. For his second act – storming back at Johnson, making contact with the ref and shoving Johnson – Randle was issued a second technical for an unsportsmanlike act, which led to his ejection.
The Knicks were winning 86-76 at the time of Randle’s ejection.
Julius Randle got into computer incident with Knicks assistant
SALT LAKE CITY – Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said the computer altercation between Julius Randle and assistant coach/video coordinator Scott King against the Lakers on Saturday has been “resolved’’ and “taken care of.’’
The incident against the Lakers was caught on video by a fan and posted on social media where it caused a stir because of Randle’s recent emotional behavior.
During a timeout, King came up to Randle in the huddle with his laptop and Randle slapped at the screen and started jawing angrily at him.
Assistant coaches Kenny Payne and Johnnie Bryant separated the two. King was likely showing him a defensive lapse against the Lakers in a game the Knicks ultimately lost in overtime after blowing a 21-point lead.
“When you have competitive people, you’re gonna have stuff like that,’’ Thibodeau said. “That’s normal. Every team has it. It’s competitive people, heat of the moment. They’re good. They’ve got a great relationship. Everyone is trying to win. So, it’s all part of it.’’
It is unusual for a coach to bring the laptop into the NBA huddle to show video. Usually a coach will just tell the player tidbits. Thibodeau said the computers, though, are taking over.
In addition, the way Randle carried on for several seconds illustrated his recent temper that has been seen with referees. He picked up two technicals vs. Memphis last week leading to an automatic ejection in the final seconds. Randle also staged a recent media boycott and the NBA fined the Knicks $25,000. Randle did not talk to beat writers after the morning shootaround in Utah on Monday.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday and Randle reacted combatively when this reporter asked him Friday his reaction to rumors the Knicks are open to a deal.
Asked if it was unusual for a computer to be brought to Randle like that, Thibodeau said, “(Computers), that’s the modern NBA. Hey look, the technology has been great. To be able to look at plays — we see it more in football because there’s a break in play — but when guys come out or timeouts, you always have that interaction. And often times, the player wants to see it. It might be how he’s being defended. It’s might be a situation that occurred. It’s very helpful. It was heat of the moment. It’s normal stuff.
“There’s a lot of interactions over the course of the season. There’s heat of the moment. There’s competition. There’s competitive people involved. And then there’s great respect for Julius, the coaches, so it’s normal. You fix it. Immediately, it was taken care of.’’
Randle failed to earn his second All-Star berth last week and has looked off with his body language during losses. The Post reported Thibodeau has had trouble getting Randle to play with the same selflessness he showed last season.
There’s been other videos on social media showing Randle not helping up teammates who have fallen to the ground. Against the Clippers two weeks ago, Randle strolled away from the huddle to talk to his wife Kendra sitting behind the baseline.
RJ Barrett and Julius Randle propel Knicks past Pacers
Julius Randle was back from COVID-19 protocols and RJ Barrett was back to being an efficient force.
That Batman and Robin tandem of a season ago exploded on the undermanned Pacers as they combined for 62 points in a 104-94 victory Tuesday at the Garden.
It was the 30-30 club and felt like retro night from the 2020-21 campaign.
Barrett scored 32 points — 24 in the first half — while Randle punished the Pacers all night with his physicality, going 12-for-20 and racking up 30 points. He also had 16 rebounds.
Barrett was 12 of 20 from the field and hit six of his eight free throws. The pair hit just two 3-pointers each, showing a relentless spirit in attacking the basket.
“The big thing is for RJ, it was incredible for him to start the game,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “With both guys, it’s them attacking the rim. The game will tell you what to do. If we settle for shots, it’s going to cause problems. If we’re attacking the rim, it makes us different.”
The Knicks were 0-2 when Randle was out with COVID-19 after taking a lot of heat in the media and on social media that he wasn’t living up to his superstar form of a season ago.
Interestingly, Randle did not talk to the media after the game. He had treatment and left in a sign he could be ticked off at the recent negative coverage.
“For Julius to do what he did today was just remarkable — to come off safety protocols, travel, get here and play,’’ Thibodeau said. “We had no idea what he’d be like. Unbelievable effort. Unbelievable all the things he did … physicality was huge for us. His rebounding was the difference in the game.’’
Randle isolated in Oklahoma, then was permitted to drive to Dallas, his hometown, before flying in Monday after testing negative. He spent New Year’s Eve at home.
Thibodeau said he was unsure if Randle would play Tuesday until a very late-night call from him on Monday.
“I had no idea,’’ Thibodeau said. “Then I talked to [him] last night, he told me how great he felt. I’m like ‘OK, that’s good news.’ It came at a good time. We were working on how we were going to match up with them. A late-night call. One of the best late-night calls I ever had.”
In a sign of the distorted times, even as Randle was rolling in the second half, the fans chanted Barrett’s name when Randle, their lone All-Star, stepped to the free-throw line. Last season they chanted “MVP’’ anytime Randle shot free throws.
Barrett heard chants much of the evening as the Knicks (18-20) were able to survive a scoreless night from free-agent signee Evan Fournier as he missed all four of his shots in 22 minutes.
“It’s cool,’’ Barrett said. “Definitely in the Garden, hearing the Garden chanting your name is a lot of fun.’’
Obi Toppin, whom many fans wish would cut into Randle’s minutes, scored two points in nine minutes after starting the past two games at power forward.
Barrett erupted for 17 points in the game’s first seven minutes and had 24 by halftime. Despite his relentless attacks on the basket and fancy, spinning finishes, the Knicks couldn’t even come out of the first half with the lead.
“I was just trying to be aggressive,’’ Barrett said. “When you get in the paint, you either finish or kick out if the defense collapses.’’
Barrett credited Randle for his rebounding “and the intensity he had. He’s always ready.’’
It was hardly an easy win, though. Sparked by their emergency starting guard Kiefer Sykes and his 16 points, the Pacers were even with the Knicks at 55-55 at intermission. The Knicks no longer have any players in COVID protocols. The Pacers have eight.
Undrafted in 2015, Sykes had 12 points in his NBA career in just three previous games. His anonymous career has been spent in the G-League, Turkey, Italy and Australia.
And Sykes became a sterling shotmaker, drilling 4 of 8 3-pointers and finishing with 20 points.
In the revolving door at point guard, Thibodeau started Alec Burks instead of rookie Miles McBride who had started the previous two.
With Randle back, Barrett took ownership of the game, driving relentlessly, drawing fouls and also hitting his first two 3-pointers.
Throwing in all his moves, Barrett finished 8 of 12 and made 6 of 7 free throws in his best half of his young career as the Knicks went on a 16-0 run to erase an 18-10 deficit.
Barrett had a big second season but has regressed in Year 3. But this could be the start of something for both players.
Julius Randle shades Nets player after another blown Knicks chance
Julius Randle notched another triple-double, but he allowed a big 3 and missed a big 2.
In his first trip to Barclays Center since his teammates had to hold him back from confronting referee Scott Foster after a controversial finish on March 15, Randle tallied 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. But, just like last time, the Knicks lost to the undermanned Nets despite their best player possessing the ball with a chance to tie.
“Got a great look — something I practice every day,” Randle said after missing the final shot in a 114-112 loss. “Felt good coming off my hands and didn’t go in.”
Three weeks ago, the Nets trailed, 115-112, when Randle was called for a travel. Replays showed that Kyrie Irving slapped the ball loose as Randle elevated for a 3. But Randle never lost possession of the ball and the officials ruled it a travel when he came back down with the ball. Two teammates prevented him from hunting down Foster after the final buzzer, but not from flipping a chair on the walk back to the locker room.
There was no whistle Monday, and Randle said that sequence wasn’t fresh in his mind. Just a horn that sounded as his 18-foot jump pull-up shot over Jeff Green clanged off the back rim.
Off a timeout, the Knicks drew up Randle faking a screen and curling free outside of the arc for the inbounds pass from Alec Burks.
“The last play has three different options and obviously he is the focal point,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He has two other reads that he can go to. I thought he got a good look at it.”
The Knicks squandered a 13-point third-quarter lead as Irving scored 40 to lead the comeback. One of Irving’s biggest baskets, to open up a 100-94 lead, was a step-back 3 off of a behind-the-back dribble that left Randle out of position on a defensive switch.
Three minutes later, Randle and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarroot were called for double technical fouls after getting physical.
“I don’t really know what his problem was,” Randle said. “He’s not a guy on the court that I’m really worried about when I’m playing. He tried to give me a little forearm or whatever, so I slapped his arm off me.”
Four of Randle’s 10 career triple-doubles are in a Knicks uniform, including three in the last 12 games. Only five players — all guards — have more in franchise history. That statistic and close losses don’t matter much.
“It does nothing for me,” Randle said. “It’s either a win or a loss. There are not really any moral victories.”
Randle, who has been playing through a sore thigh, grimaced through pain for the final two minutes. He was holding his right knee after grabbing a defensive rebound, but that didn’t stop him from dribbling through his legs in isolation and shooting from midrange on the next few possessions. His two free throws cut the Knicks’ deficit to 112-109.
“I’m good,” Randle said. “No worries.”
Julius Randle pours in 37 to lead Knicks past Wizards
Julius Randle got fined $15,000 by the NBA, then tried to score 15,000 points on the lowly Wizards.
Randle took out any lasting referee frustrations out on Washington Tuesday at the Garden as he poured in 37 points, making 7 of 10 3-pointers, as the Knicks blew out the Wizards, 131-113. Randle’s seven 3s tied a career-high.
The All-Star power forward, who was punished for his inflammatory remarks about the refereeing in the Knicks’ loss to Philly on Sunday, is the chief reason the Knicks are 22-22, already surpassing last season’s win total.
“The statement was the win was the most important thing,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Randle. “He’s done that a number of times for us. To bounce back after a tough loss, and the way we lost the game, that’s what leaders do.”
Randle, who hasn’t missed a game this season, shot 13 of 24 from the field as the Knicks won a wire-to-wire blowout.
They face the Wizards at the Garden again on Thursday. With another win, the Knicks would have schooled Las Vegas, which had their Over/Under for wins at 22 ½.
Randle had 35 points midway through the third quarter, hitting 3-pointers over all of Washington’s youngsters, including Israeli lottery pick Deni Avidja and Rui Hachimuru.
Thibodeau kept Randle in for much of the fourth quarter instead of rolling with rookie Obi Toppin, the Knicks’ lottery pick who is in a slump. Toppin played just eight minutes and was scoreless for the fourth straight game as Randle offered him some consoling words on the bench late in the contest.
The Knicks built a 69-49 lead at halftime with Randle going for 21 points, making 8 of 14 shots, hitting 3 of 4 from 3-point line.
Center Mitchell Robinson, in his second game back following hand surgery, scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks. RJ Barrett scored 21 points and Alec Burks added 20.
Starting point guard Elfrid Payton returned from a four-game absence with a hamstring strain. He lofted a high alley-oop pass for Robinson, who leapt to the Garden ceiling for the monster slam.
Before the game, Robinson admitted it was going to take a little more time.
“I just have to get back into shape, like game-playing shape,’’ he said. “I’ve been running a lot. Just have to get back to myself as of game-playing shape. But it felt great, getting back out there with the guys.’’
Knicks 94, Magic 93: Scenes from Julius Randle, point forward extraordinaire
The New York Knicks were missing two crucial point guards — three if you’re inclined to count Elfrid Payton. Rookie sensation Immanuel Quickley joined Payton and Derrick Rose on the injured list on Tuesday night against the always dangerous Orlando Magic. Who would man the point for the Knickerbockers?
Well, that would depend on how you define “point guard.” Frank Ntilikina technically manned the point at the tip-off, despite a string of ghastly shooting performances. But these Knicks are Julius Randle’s team, and he’s going to be the guy with the ball more often than not. Randle was dropping dimes left and right — 17 to be exact — en route to his third triple-double of the season (18 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds as the Knicks had just enough in the tank to hold off Orlando, 94-93.
Can I talk about Frank for a moment? The Frenchman has mostly failed to take advantage of his recent playing time, and he was shooting 0-16 from three since the All-Star break. The first half looked to be more of the same, as he was 0-3. But things really turned around in the third quarter. He canned back-to-back threes to end the skid. Then, he got a step on Chasson Randle and just kept going, all the way to the dang rim.
Knicks fans the world over erupted in celebration as Frank mean-mugged to the Garden crowd.
Unfortunately, the guys let go of the rope a bit at the end of the third quarter, and the Magic quickly stormed back to take the lead on New York’s threadbare second unit. But the Knicks were buoyed by the scoring of Alec Burks (21 points), Reggie Bullock (20 points), and our boy Frank.
Julius Randle hit two more buckets to kept Orlando at bay, and then Burks went to work.
Burks missed the free throw, however, and gave up a three to Evan Fournier. Bullock coughed up the ensuing possession, and Knicks fans clenched their collective butt cheeks.
Fortunately, Bullock was ready to make amends on D.
This was a wild, ugly game. But a win is a win. Recap to come.