Cult NBL commentator Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams has slammed axed Adelaide 36ers star Craig Randall II, calling the American a ‘wasted talent’ who ‘nobody wants to play with’.Â
The 26-year-old shooting guard was released by the 36ers on Tuesday after joining the club at the start of the season.
Despite starring in the side’s historic preaseason victory over the Phoenix Suns – the first time an NBL side has beaten an NBA team – and averaging the most three-pointers of any player in the league, it became obvious the relationship had deteriorated beyond repair.
Randall could be seen arguing with coach CJ Bruton and teammates on the sidelines in the side’s round 5 game against the Breakers; and displayed horrifically poor body language at times.
When senior players approached 36ers club officials saying they could no longer play with Randall, the club was forced to act, and Williams said the American could blame no one but himself.Â
‘Your teammates – nobody wants to play with you. It can’t be them. At some point when 10 people say it’s you, it’s you,’ a fired up Williams told the NBL’s ‘Overtime’ show.Â
Williams, a fellow American who is more well-known for his nbl feats at the Townsville Crocodiles, including winning the 2010 MVP award, said he reached out to Randall to offer some thoughts on how he could improve and thrive in Australia.
Craig Randall (pictured) was let go by the Adelaide 36ers on Tuesday, and an NBL legend said he had no one else to blame but himself
It appears he did not heed that advice – and the 45-year-old smashed him for it.Â
‘I reached out to you, I told you things that you need to do, and I told you how this country is, meaning that nonsense that you do, you can’t do that here,’ Williams fumed.
‘Just curb this, change this. What happened, you didn’t do your part and it ain’t nobody’s fault except yours.
‘I had your back and to see your body language continue. To see you arguing with the head coach that believed in you,’ said Williams.Â
None of Craig Randall’s teammates reportedly wanted to play with him given his selfish attitude and lack of desire to heed to a team-first approach
It’s not the first time Randall has found himself in hot-water over his attitude, either.
Clearly talented, the guard wasn’t drafted in 2020 NBA draft and instead joined the Long Island Nets in the G-League.
After becoming the first Nets player to post back-to-back 40-point games, he was named as the league’s Most Improved Player in April; but the club still benched him for the final five games of the season.
Why? Because he was seen as selfish, and not someone with the work ethic required of a professional basketballer.Â
Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams, a previous NBL MVP, took Randall to task over his selfish behaviour
‘This ain’t the first time this has happened. It happened in the G League, so what you did was double down on whatever the stigma was about you,’ Williams noted in his rant.
‘You’ve proved them right. In life you are either an asset or a liability – and he (Randall) is a liability.
‘The saddest thing in life is wasted talent. He is arguing with coaches and arguing with teammates,’ said Williams.
It was a trend that repeated itself at the 36ers. Randall began to run into issues as soon as he joined the club, clashing with teammates and coaching staff in trainings and games – both physically and verbally.
Randall’s (pictured) body language was slammed by Williams, who said the talented player would never make it in the NBA with his poor attitude
He refused to stand with his teammates during the national anthem prior to the game against the Phoenix, and reportedly didn’t put in much work ethic when it came to training, which is of course what any Aussie athlete prides themselves on.
Williams said while Randall undoubtedly had ability, he didn’t believe Randall would ever be able to make it in the NBA due to his selfish attitude.Â
‘You know the first thing they ask about fringe NBA players – you are bigger than your ability. Are you a good person, is he coachable?’ he asked.
‘It doesn’t even matter if you are a good person or not if you aren’t coachable. You probably have an X against your name in the locker room … this is the harsh reality of where you’re at today.’
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When the 36ers let Randall go on Tuesday, the club didn’t exactly refute the suggestions that none of the players wanted to play with him despite him averaging the fourth-most points-per-game in the league.Â
‘There are always pros and cons in every player and every decision that is made,’ coach Bruton said.
‘The kid (Randall) is great, and we all know that he is talented, but we’ve all got our things that we need to work on.
‘I think where we’re at right now as a club, and I know it’s early days in the season, but as a team we’re looking to build momentum in the right direction,’ said Bruton.
Adelaide 36ers coach CJ Bruton confirmed the club had parted ways with Randall, saying despite being talented he had some things to work on
Given the club are languishing at eighth on the ladder with a 3-5 record, something needs to happen fast.Â
Bruton’s men, now down their most talented player, face an away clash against Melbourne United on Thursday night, before they take on an out-of-sorts Wildcats side the following round.Â
