Related Post
Former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy has warned Julius Randle about his lack of self-control over his recently erratic behavior and the negative impact it could have on New York’s playoff chances next month, following a series of on-court outburst from the power forward, himself.
NBA referees teed up the the 28-year-old in each of his last three appearances for the royal blue and orange, including against the Magic, Heat and Timberwolves.
On Thursday, during a 11-106 loss to Orlando, Randle’s attitude reached a tipping point when the two-time All Star was raging first with the officials, then teammate Immanuel Quickley after appearing to be fouled while driving to the bucket.
Randle was visibly animated in his chatter with Quickley. Both had to be separated from each other by other Knicks teammates after the third-year guard tried to get Randle away from the game’s referee — Leon Wood.
‘Emotion and passion lead to better play, but a lack of emotional control and poise lead to lesser play,’ Jeff Van Gundy, who was the head coach of the Knicks from 1996 to 2001, told The New York Post.
New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle talks to referee Mitchell Ervin after receiving a technical foul during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 20
ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy said Randle’s erratic behavior, as of late, is concerning for the Knicks heading into the NBA playoffs next month
‘To play well in the playoffs, to play well in hard-fought, highly-contested, close games, ultimately you have to have your best players have a level of poise that leads them to be able to play through rough patches of games or a tough loss in a playoff series and to bounce back. Poise is so very critical to be able to handle late-game pressurized situations.
‘I think a couple of years back in the playoffs [Randle] had some issues with that. I think he’s had to close games this year, had some challenges with that.’
Randle started off last week with a career-high 57-point performance in the Knicks’ loss to the Timberwolves (the first game out his last three outings in which he earned a technical). However, looking less engaged in his next two matchups, Randle only scored 15 points and another 23 against the Heat and Magic, respectively.
What’s more is that the forward’s overall field goal percentage has been somewhat worrisome (39 percent) lately, reminding Knicks fans of his playoff struggles in 2021 against the Hawks, when his overall shooting percentage was just 30 percent.
In the matchup against Atlanta from two years ago, Randle had also lost his temper.
In any case, the Knicks need to manage their star rather sooner than later, as the team now faces the potential scenario of wrapping up the regular season ranked below the Heat and Brooklyn Nets.
As things stand, New York sits as the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed with a 42-33 overall record. The Nets are two-and-a-half games behind their rivals, while the Heat hold a 40-35 overall record, following a four-game run behind losing to Brooklyn on Saturday.
‘As far as what a coach can do, if this problem is to be corrected, it’s gonna be because Julius Randle wants to get it corrected,’ Van Gundy said, referring to his former assistant and current Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. The pair worked together during Van Gundy’s five-year stint in charge of the Knicks.
Van Gundy said it’d be ideal for Randle to own up to his recent behavior and want to change his attitude, rather than to have Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau intervene
‘It can be punished by a coach or an organization,’ the ESPN commentator added. ‘But it can only be corrected by the player.’
The Knicks reached the playoffs each season during Van Gundy’s tenure, particularly going all the way to the NBA Finals in the lockout–shortened 1998–99 season. At the time, New York had been a contender in the East with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers, led by Reggie Miller.
And though Randle’s outbursts threaten to spoil an overachieving and auspicious season at Madison Square Garden, Van Gundy claims that Jalen Brunson, who lately revealed that he would’ve loved to stayed on the Mavericks, is the go-to-guy that the Knicks need to turn to, once the playoffs are around the corner in April.
‘Brunson is their best player and their most valuable player,’ Van Gundy said. ‘He has tremendous skill and poise, and that allows him to function very well under pressure.
‘But I don’t think him playing has anything to do with how Randle conducts his business. I think what it does do, if everyone has great role acceptance, they’ll play off of Brunson late.
‘It’s very important, Randle can be on the backside of actions, he’s really shot the 3 well this year. Everybody’s got to understand that, that whole idea of role acceptance is huge. Clearly, Brunson has developed into a tremendous offensive talent, who’s clearly their best option late.’
Van Gundy led the Knicks to the playoffs in each of his five seasons as the Knicks head coach, from 1996-2001
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is the go-to-man for the Knicks rather than Randle when it’ll be that time of the year for the playoffs, according to Van Gundy
On paper, a lack of superstar-caliber player is what separates the Knicks from just making to playoffs to making a deep playoff run and upsetting contenders in the East.
Van Gundy, though, points to perhaps the recipient of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in June, as the answer for the Knicks’ playoff troubles.
‘Every time he’s been doubted about what level he can reach, he’s continued to improve,’ Van Gundy said. ‘He would be the best chance they have on the roster for someone who could carry them to an improbable playoff series win. He combines great skill with tremendous poise.
‘When you’re the best player, you need both to be able to function well in the playoffs. It’s gonna be hard, and teams are gonna focus in on you. You have to have answers skills-wise, which he does, but you also have to understand that the hard times, the periods of adversity, need to be responded to correctly and have answers.
‘And he has enough skill and enough poise to be that guy.’
The Knicks next face the Houston Rockets at home on Monday.
