SALT LAKE CITY — Julius Randle’s emotions have gotten the better of him again with another ugly incident. Will this become the final straw?
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said the computer altercation between Randle and assistant coach/video coordinator Scott King during Saturday’s game with the Lakers has been “resolved” and “taken care of.”
But the positive spin may only last until Thursday’s trade deadline as the sense is team officials are walking on pins and needles around their former All-Star. 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 Randle a defensive lapse 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.”
Julius Randle had a heated showdown with Knicks assistant Scott King TwitterIt 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 also has been seen in his dealings with referees. He picked up two technical fouls versus Memphis last week leading to an automatic ejection in the final seconds.
“Stuff like that happens all the time,” Julius Randle said after the Knicks fell to the Jazz. “Honestly, there’s heated exchanges and arguments throughout a game, but it’s all coming from a good place. Everybody wants to win. Everybody’s challenging each other to win. It’s fun. I slapped his laptop today, too. I wasn’t mad, but I slapped it.”
Randle and the Knicks lost in overtime in Los Angeles USA TODAY SportsIn January, the hot-headed Randle gave a thumbs-down gesture to Knicks fans, suggesting in his postgame explanation that they “shut the f–k up.”.
Randle also staged a recent media boycott for which the NBA fined the Knicks $25,000. Randle did not talk to beat writers after Monday’s morning shootaround.
With the trade deadline occurring when the Knicks are in San Francisco, Randle seems off. He reacted combatively on Friday when asked his reaction to rumors the Knicks are open to a deal and eventually called it “gossip.”
Julius Randle slapped a laptop away and had words with Knicks assistant Scott King. TwitterAsked if it was unusual for a laptop 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 showed poor body language during losses. The Post reported Thibodeau has had trouble getting Randle to play with the same selflessness he showed last season. Randle’s leadership has also come into focus.
Randle had to be held by other Knicks coaches TwitterThere’s been videos on social media showing Randle not helping up teammates who have fallen to the floor. Against the Clippers two weeks ago, Randle strolled away from the huddle to talk to his wife, Kendra, sitting behind the baseline.
NBA insiders believe Randle’s trade value is too low to move at this moment with rumors circulating the Kings and Knicks could do a D’Aaron Fox-for-Randle package.
One NBA personnel man feels Randle can only fetch a decent rotation player and a first-round pick — which would set the club back considering he draws constant double teams.
Randle has yet to explain the exact reasoning why he dissed the fans last month, especially considering at the time of the gesture, Randle had been booed no more than any other Knick. In Milwaukee 10 days ago, Randle said he wants to stay with the Knicks and fulfill his four-year contract extension.






