Julius Randle’s temper cost him more money.
The Knicks forward was fined $50,000 for “forcefully” shoving Phoenix’s Cam Johnson during Friday night’s game and making contact with a referee, the NBA announced Sunday.
The league said Randle didn’t participate with the league’s investigation, adding to the punishment. He’s been fined three times this season by the NBA for a total of $90,000.
The latest offense also probably cost the Knicks a victory. They were leading by 10 late in the third quarter, with Randle as the catalyst, when the 27-year-old turned furious at Johnson for running into his back during a rebound attempt.
Randle pushed aside the arm of the intervening referee to get at Johnson, and unleashed a two-hand shove in the chest of the Suns forward.
It turned into a disaster for the Knicks. Randle picked up two techs on the play and was ejected. Johnson scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner trey at the buzzer. Randle said he apologized to his teammates and took responsibility, even if he somewhat questioned the ejection decision.
“I was a little bit surprised,” Randle told reporters ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Kings. “But it’s part of the game. I usually thought I’d get one (technical) and it would be over with. I didn’t see the double tech coming. But it’s still my fault.”
Tom Thibodeau called the ejection “borderline.”
“It’s an emotional game,” the coach told reporters. “There’s going to be exchanges. You have to be careful not to cross over that line. Everyone understands that. it was unfortunate. I thought it was borderline, to be honest with you. You can’t put it in an officials hands to make a decision like that. We can learn from that.”
There have been concerns and questions around the league about the Knicks enabling Randle’s behavior and not holding him accountable. In addition to the three fines from the NBA, Randle has two ejections and is tied for sixth in the league with 11 techs.
The Knicks were also docked $25,000 in January for violating access rules regarding Randle, essentially eating the fine because he didn’t want to talk to the media after games. Less than a month later, Randle slapped the laptop of a team video coordinator and was restrained by teammates during a timeout.
In terms of controlling emotions during games, the Knicks haven’t set the best example. Thibodeau’s complaining to the referees is typically loud and demonstrative. Top executive William Wesley had also been animated during games toward referees, especially on the road, and was spotted last season storming around in a tantrum behind the basket in Barclays Center.
On the other hand, Randle has some legitimate gripes with the NBA. His first fine this season was $15,000 for punting the ball into the stands during the home opener. It was a move out of celebration, not frustration, since the Knicks had just toppled the Celtics in overtime.
Randle was then fined $25,000 for “egregious use” of foul language, becoming the first target of the league’s initiative to weed out profanity during media availabilities. Before and even after, cursing by players would go ignored by the NBA.
