Knicks fans rip down Julius Randle’s MSG poster with calls for him to be traded after playoff exit

Several fuming Knicks fans were seen ripping down the poster of team star forward Julius Randle outside of Madison Square Garden before stomping and graffitiing on it, with calls for the two-time All-Star to be traded after the Knicks suffered a second round playoffs exit to the Miami Heat. 

In the aftermath of the Knickerbockers’ 96-92 season-ending loss on Friday night, a lot of backlash was directed at Randle, who won the Most Improved Player Award in 2021, including from ESPN basketball analyst Stephen A. Smith.

The 28-year-old – one of the Knicks’ most senior players – had his worst performance of the Series in Game 6 against Miami, scoring 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field and 11 rebounds.

As a result of his latest on-court display, a small crowd of angry Knicks fans gathered to take out their frustration at their team’s No. 30, recording the entire moment prior to sharing it on social media.

The mob ripped the Randle poster off a wall in a corridor near Madison Square Garden before stomping over the placard and spray painting it while others taunted the player in front of NYPD officers nearby. 

Angry Knicks fans tore down Julius Randle’s poster at MSG after Friday’s season-ending Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat in South Florida

NYPD police officers removed the vandalized ad after bypassers took pictures of it, with white graffiti covering Randle’s face, which was covered with the words: ‘TRADE ME’

Cops then decided to remove the vandalized ad as bypassers took pictures of the white graffiti sprayed over Randle’s face, which was covered with the words: ‘TRADE ME’.    

As the video went viral on social media, one retired NBA player came to Randle’s defense, despite the power forward’s short comings in the playoffs. 

‘Annnnnnnnnd this is what I was talking about with Knicks fans. Best team in a decade tough ending but overachieved on the season and this is what happens,’ tweeted Richard Jefferson – a 2016 NBA champion with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Knicks forward Julius Randle had his worst performance of the Series in Game 6 against Miami 

The 28-year-old scored 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field and 11 rebounds on Friday

Randle averaged a career-high 25.1 points per game this season, though he scored 16.6 points on average per contest on 37 percent shooting in 10 postseason games. 

‘The Knicks exceeded expectations this season and put the world on notice,’ shared ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins on Twitter. 

‘That damn [Jalen] Brunson is about that life and he’s a straight up Star. RJ Barrett showed a lot Growth this postseason and they have to figure out what the hell they are going to do with Randle. Carry on…’

After New York’s second round playoffs exit, Stephen A. Smith called for the Knicks to trade Julius Randle. 

ESPN’s basketball analyst claimed Jalen Brunson ‘was the only who showed up’ in the the Knicks matchup against Miami. He demanded for New York to pair its star guard with seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard.