Randle Regrests Gesture - Apologizes

[Zenzibar]

New York Knicks' Julius Randle 'regrets' thumbs-down gesture, remarks to fans

NEW YORK -- Julius Randle apologized in a statement on his Instagram account on Friday, saying that his thumbs-down gesture to Knicks fans during Thursday's win over the Boston Celtics as well as his postgame remarks were "an example of how sometimes you say things you regret to people you love."

"Just want to send a quick message to our fans and be clear -- I love NYC and being a part of this team and this franchise," Randle wrote. "And like most Knicks fans, I am really passionate about us being successful.

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"My family and I love how the fans and New Yorkers have embraced and accepted us and have made us feel great about our decision to commit long-term with the team this past summer. This support means the world to us.

"I understand that my actions also represent the league, this organization, and the city, and that I should have handled things last night differently and expressed myself with more professionalism and more appropriate language in the heat of the moment. My comment was an example of how sometimes you say things you regret to people you love, even if it came from a place of passion and deep love.

"Nobody wants to win more than me and I will continue to show loyalty and dedication to my teammates, the entire Knicks organization, and the fans who have shown me and my family so much love. I am going to keep focusing on the future."


Julius Randle said Friday that he should have "expressed myself with more professionalism and more appropriate language in the heat of the moment." Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Randle gave fans at Madison Square Garden, who had been booing during the first part of the game, a thumbs-down after making a layup midway through the fourth quarter of New York's come-from-behind win, and he appeared to shake his head after the crowd chanted "M-V-P" a minute later.

After the game, when asked what he meant by his thumbs-down to the fans, Randle bluntly said, "Shut the f--- up."

Randle was similarly blunt Wednesday after the Knicks practiced in Westchester, when asked what he thought about the negativity that has surrounded him this season.

"I really don't give a f--- what anybody has to say, to be honest," Randle said. "I'm out there playing. Nobody knows the game out there better than I do, compared to what everybody has to say.

"So I really don't give a s---. I just go out there and play."

Randle's thumbs-down gesture immediately stood out because of what happened with the New York Mets this summer, when shortstop Javier Baez hit a home run and gave the crowd at Citi Field a pair of thumbs down. Baez said later that his gesture was in response to the fans' treatment of him and his teammates throughout the season.

Randle set career highs in several categories last season, including scoring, rebounding, assists, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage, and signed a four-year, $117 million extension this offseason.

This season, though, has been far different. Randle's production has dipped, most notably his 3-point shooting, which is down more than 8% from last season.

New York plays Boston again Saturday, this time on the road. The Knicks have won seven of their past 11 games -- including 7 of 9 that Randle has played -- and are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

[Kampuchea]

[Zenzibar]

Open Letter To Jules,

All is good Jules, noone is perfect. We ARE passionate and crazy rabid fans. We're hungry as fk for a Championship, many, many Knicks fans have been born and have died without a parade on downtown Broadway. All we ask is that you bring us closer, not necessarily win one, but bring us closer. Don't bring us closer and then pull it away from us, we can't deal with this anymore, too many years Bro.

Play like you played on Wednesday my Guy, with mad passion, with your teammates and you'll be part of this Knicks family forever.

Now you know, like in any family there will be arguments and disagreements, hang in there with us and we will hang in there with you (see John Starks).

We are the New York Knicks Fam.

Sincerely
Knicks fan for over 50 years.

[Clyde_Style]

What I would like to see more than anything from Randle is focus. Get your head back in the game please. Do that and nobody will care about any of this

[HEZI]

Knicks regret gesture of offering him a 4 year contract

[Ray Williams]

[3toheadmelo]

Very disappointing he apologized. F them haters! King Julius keep doing ya thing!

[BadNewsBarnes]

Who got to Julius? Rose? Dolan? Breen?

[Spree2Houston]

Dolan probably made him do it

[Im Coming Home]

Too late to go tucking your tail between your legs now Julius. You had your chance in the post game of a happy win.. and you were still mad about it and told reporters it mean 'shut the f*ck up' long after the game was over in an exciting buzzer beater by RJ...

[Iron Mantis]

Who got to Julius? Rose? Dolan? Breen?

He is already sensitive to criticism.

Now Literally every sports player and writer, etc. who commented on the topic has publicly said that what Julius did is wrong.

He was feeling that heat and realized he was wrong and this would not end well.

[thebuzzardman]

Courtesy of aromeoj

[KnicksGod]

Interesting part of this is that a smaller market team with less pressure may think they would get All Star Julius if they got him by trade.

[Oscirus]

Interesting part of this is that a smaller market team with less pressure may think they would get All Star Julius if they got him by trade.

we'd def get bent over in a randle trade. People would be buying low at the mome

[EnigmatiC]

Who got to Julius? Rose? Dolan? Breen?

This is what I want to know

[Capn'O]

It's ok Julius. Real New Yorkers know you didn't mean it.

Spoiler:

The apology, that is.

[Capn'O]

Watch on YouTube

[Chanel Bomber]

Soft.

I would've respected him more if he had called out mpharris and all these horrible fans like LeBron did:

Watch on YouTube

[Fat]

Shouldn’t of apologized now he will be booed for being soft

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Pop **** and apologize, ninja, just ask Kiss.