NBA docks Randle $40K for yelling at referee
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle was fined $40,000 for directing hostile language toward a referee, the NBA announced Tuesday.
The incident occurred at the end of New York's 108-93 loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday and followed Randle's shove on Jazz center Rudy Gobert.
Don’t know what precipitated this but just seems unnecessary from Randle. Led to a small postgame scuffle. pic.twitter.com/FAwhFWmXTx
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) March 21, 2022
Randle explained postgame that an official came to speak with him after the push, but the forward didn't elaborate on what prompted the hostile language.
"I was having a conversation with the official at first, and when I walked away they kind of were grabbing me," Randle told reporters including SNY, "I guess they thought there was some confrontation between me and (Rudy) from the play before."
This marks the fourth time Randle has been fined this season. The 27-year-old was penalized $15,000 in October for kicking the game ball into the stands. He was also docked $25,000 in January for using profane language during media availabilities and fined $50,000 for an altercation with Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson earlier this month.
Randle's frustration comes amid a tough campaign for the 30-41 Knicks who sit five games out of a play-in spot.