Speaking to reporters after Wednesday’s game, Knicks forward Julius Randle denied rumors that he’s pushing for a trade, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday.
“Yeah, that’s not true, bro,” Randle said. “That’s just not true. Simple as that, it’s not true at all. If it didn’t come from me it ain’t true.”
Randle was booed by the Madison Square Garden crowd during pre-game introductions, Popper writes in a full game story, but he also heard a few cheers after making his first three shots on the way to a 21-point, seven-assist and five-rebound night.
The trade demand rumors emerged as a result of Randle’s body language while scoring just five points in Monday’s game and then leaving the court immediately afterward rather than celebrating with his teammates. Randle didn’t talk with the media after that game, and a New York radio station passed along an unconfirmed report that he asked the front office for a trade that night.
Coach Tom Thibodeau dismissed the rumors before Wednesday’s contest, asking reporters, “Are you serious?” and saying, “Let’s be real.”
When asked if he thinks Randle wants to stay in New York, Thibodeau offered an indirect reply, saying, “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 provided a more firm denial following the game, stating several times that he wants his long-term future to be in New York, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). When asked about the extra attention that comes with playing in a big market, Randle replied, “I’m built for it.”
Randle said the toughest part of being booed in his home arena is the effect it has on his family, particularly his five-year-old son, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. But otherwise, he’s not bothered by the fan reaction and won’t let it drive him out of New York.
“My goal and what I work hard for is to make the city proud, to make the fans proud,” he said. “I play for my teammates, I play for my family. It’s as simple as that, bro. Nothing more than that. From the inside looking out, it is what it is. You know? I understand that a lot of times you’ve got to just let your game do the talking and go from there. Like I said, I love the city. My family loves it here. I’m a Knick. That’s what I love. I love being a Knick.”
You signed the new contract. No one forced you to SIGN the new contract.
Stop talking and keep tanking
Feel free to take your own advice
Westbrook for randle
I’d be curious if the Knicks would do Kemba and Randle for Anthony Davis?
Why would the LAL do that?
Such a ridiculous comment, SMH!
Next you will propose Rozier for LBJ & a couple firsts, right?
Anthony Davis averages 23.1 PPG, 9.7 RB and 2.9 AST.
Randles averages 20.1, 9.9 and 5.1.
Oh, and Randle has played twice as many games. Want to tell me again why it’s ridiculous, or you just type whatever comes out?
Sorry man, but if you think you can compare AD & JR… you are way beyond my help to understand this… or anything else for that matter my friend!
I will take neither thanks.
Randle has the ability to be a really good player. He just needs to focus on his strengths—rebounding, defense, and diving to the rim to get high percentage shots.
Unfortunately, he (and apparently Thibs) seems to think that he’s a “heliocentric” creator in the mold of Luka, LeBron, Trae, etc. That’s a larger issue than his attitude.
Yup. And it’s not like he’s a young kid where you could think maybe he’ll mature or adjust his attitude with time. It’s a big concern at this stage of his career.
And now that he’s got his money, he doesn’t seem to care. That’s another issue.
Feels like a repeat of ZBo. Some young team is gonna trade for him in the next year or two and he’ll fit like a glove. Maybe the Grizz or Mavs.
Thunder will get him for nothing
100% on this basically being a repeat of Z-Bo getting run out of NY. Not sure if Randle’s gonna fit like a glove at his next stop tho. He’s obv very talented/productive, but he’s been a tough fit at 3 different spots already. He’d def be a tough fit in Memphis. Dallas/Min/Sac/Ind would be much better situations for him tho
You wannabes act like if you got offered a contract like that, you’d say “no I suck I can’t take that” except Randle actually played good enough to get the offer.
He def slipped but unless you have had multi millions in your possession you’ll never know the value of that kind of money. So settle down on the hate. The world has too much legit hate to waste on being mad a baller makes money you can’t even comprehend.
Your name is “DangerBone” and my name is “buttholesurfer69”, and we’re currently on an internet message board that serves no other purpose than to needlessly comment on the NBA.
If we can’t irrationally hate things here, where can we?
How about nowhere? Stop being an irrational hater. Needlessly commenting on basketball & hating people for no reason are things that shouldn’t have anything to do with each other. Do you not feel weird/bad for arguing on the side of irrational hate?
All he does is post hate. I doubt he likes the NBA.
Dude you spend like 90% of your 3,000 word paragraphs telling people how much they don’t know and how you’re more knowledgeable than everyone else—are you sure you should be commenting on OTHER people posting “hate” lol.
Go easy on Albert, he’s sensitive.
I would probably feel bad about it if I was being serious, yes.
If Knicks FO keeps Thibs and JR nothing is gonna change even if a decent PG (Brunson or Brogdon) come …
I was talking about it since he first played with Kemba. You could see he was not letting him control the ball. He acted like Kemba did something to him. It was the attention he got for coming home. How the team played it up and media also. He definitely felt hurt or neglected. It’s been downhill ever since. He’s not playing like last yr. He’s trying too hard to be the guy. On this team there is NO Guy. You do it as a team off the offense.
He’s not coming back. And Thibs better watch out. Cause Dolan does not want a malcontent with fans. He will step in.
He’s gotta go. I just hope we get value for him. There are only three players in NBA avg 20 n 10. Randle is one of them. A small market is best for him. He needs to man up and just be the best he can be. He makes a good living. Why be a sourpuss.
Agreed Al. But IMO it’s more than that. He doesn’t help teammates off the ground. He doesn’t celebrate winning plays or wins with the team. He pushes teammates away when they’re trying to support him and his tantrums. He’s not even dressing with the team for games. During the Bulls game in one of the timeouts, he sat a full empty seat away from RJ and the rest of the team. RJ even shot him some side eye as a result. Was Randle doing these things last season but they were overshadowed by his All-NBA season? His 2 best friends and coaches ate gone and he seems to be melting down.
He wasn’t acting like this last yr. Remember there were no fans till playoffs. He’s jealous and hurt. And can’t understand why he’s not treated like a star. Now fans are cheering for Obi. Randle has become detrimental to the team. He’s from Dallas. Maybe playing at home would wake him up. I’d take Dinwiddie and a pick.
Guarantee these are all the same guy using different accounts
Haha nah Sankara, been reading comments here since last year. Finally decided to join the convo. You funny tho lol.
Personnally, I only see a real star like Spida to break this coach’fav bromance … one has to go otherwise nothing is gonna change beetween Randle and Thibs.
What a loser this guy is. Bury him next to Hoffa.
Too true, too true MR Randle!
Only a weak guy would care about the fans booing him, like it means anything to anyone… thankfully no one cares about the fans, as it should be!
If they chose to spend a fortune to boo entertainers, specially the best one in their team, that is a sad way of life, their choice, sadly!
The biggest problem with the Knicks is the fans.
You get something good in Julius Randle and you treat him so badly and negatively. Eventually they end up leaving and then your rebuilding all over again.
Randle was all nba second team, he’s top 10 in his position, he leads your team in most statistically categories and you boo him at home games. It’s just a complete lack of respect and it’s having an affect on him and his family. You do the same thing to Trae young and he kills you every time.
It’s why players don’t want to join in FA. It’s why young players struggle (Ntilikina, Knox, etc).
Yes he’s not playing up to the level he did last season and he’s your not winning as many games but it’s no reason to treat him so poorly. Can’t wait until he does end up leaving and then doing really well somewhere else. Then RJ Barrett will become your star player and within 2/3 seasons you’ll be booing him
This is nonsensical regardless, but seeing as you’re a Philly fan it’s actually comical. Maybe you guys should bandy together and help fund Ben Simmons’ next round of therapy sessions.
Knicks have a litany of problems … fans booing a team that has underperformed all year isn’t one of them.