New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has been fined $25,000 for the “egregious use of profane language during media interviews,” the NBA confirmed on Saturday. 

Randle
apologised for his unpleasant celebration and post-game comments from Thursday’s home
game against the Boston Celtics. Randle gave fans thumbs down gesture during
the fourth quarter, and after the game, he said he intended it to mean
“shut the f— up.”

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In the fourth quarter, when Randle
converted a layup and, as he was running back down the court, pointed his
thumbs down toward the Madison Square Garden crowd. Randle was booed in the
first half of the game, an eventual 108-105 comeback win over the Celtics.

Randle then said that he did it in response
to being booed, saying “You saw that. You saw what was going on out
there.”

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On Friday, Randle issued an apology to
Knicks fans on Instagram. He said his actions represent more than himself and
that he should have behaved “with more professionalism.” 

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“I should’ve handled things last night
differently and expressed myself with more professionalism and more appropriate
language in the heat of the moment,” Randle wrote. “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.

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“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,” Randle continued. “I am going to keep focusing on the
future.”

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Randle isn’t the first New York athlete is
hit the fanbase with a thumbs down. Last summer, former New York Mets shortstop
Javier Baez gave the Citi Field crowd a thumbs down while he rounded the bases
following a home run. Baez said that it was a response to the way Mets fans had
treated him and his teammates during the 2021 campaign.

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The fanbase ultimately went home happy on
Thursday, as the Knicks were able to erase a 25-point deficit against the
Celtics. Boston star Jayson Tatum connected on a game-tying jumper with 1.5
seconds remaining in regulation. Knicks forward RJ Barrett then banked in an
insane three at the buzzer to lift New York to victory.

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The criticism of Randle has potentially
come due to the fact that his numbers have dipped this season. Last season,
Randle shot 41.1 per cent from three but is shooting just 32.4 per cent from
beyond the arc so far this season.