Knicks star Julius Randle to pay hefty fine for altercation, ejection vs Suns
Knicks star Julius Randle lost his cool against the Suns on Friday. While New York was leading Phoenix in the second half, the former Kentucky star didn’t take kindly to Suns forward Cameron Johnson. After losing his temper and storming towards the former North Carolina forward, Randle was ejected.
Now, Randle is going to have to pay a hefty fine for his actions. According to the NBA, the reigning NBA Most Improved Player Award recipient is being fined $50,000 for the altercation.
“New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has been fined $50,000 for initiating an on-court altercation by forcefully shoving Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson, making contact with a game official in his attempt to get to Johnson, and for his noncompliance with an NBA investigation, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations,” wrote the NBA.
“The incident, for which Johnson was assessed a technical foul and Randle was assessed two technical fouls and ejected, occurred with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter of the Suns’ 115-114 victory over the Knicks on Mar. 4 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.”
After Julius Randle was ejected, the Knicks watched their lead evaporate. To add insult to injury, Cameron Johnson banked in a game-winning three as time expired to sink the Knicks. Johnson ended the contest with 38 points, while Randle accumulated 25 points prior to his early-exit.
The next game for the Knicks is a continuation of their road trip, as they face the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:00 PM EST on ESPN on Sunday. On the other hand, the Suns travel to Milwaukee in an NBA Finals rematch against the Bucks on Sunday, the game taking place on Sunday at 3:30 PM EST on ABC.
More on Julius Randle, New York Knicks
After a dream season in 2020-21, it’s been a nightmare for Julius Randle and the New York Knicks. The franchise was expected to be a playoff team at the least, and instead they’re fighting for their lives in the Eastern Conference.
One of the main reasons for the floundering of the Knicks has been the inefficient play of the former Kentucky star. One year removed from proclaiming himself as the face of the franchise, Randle is averaging 19.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
While Randle’s rise to prominence was a joy to watch last season, he hasn’t recaptured his magic from the past. Now, the Knicks are wasting away — too talented to tank, but not talented enough to make the post-season. Time will tell if the franchise can once again pull themselves out of the doldrums before the end of the season.