Oh yeah, there’s that familiar guy; there goes that guy we know. It just took a good old-fashioned spanking for Julius Randle to inspire New York Knicks fans to dance in the streets of any borough without music.
Following the Knicks’ obliteration of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at the Target Center, the usual player meet-and-greet took place on the court. However, former Knick Julius Randle was nowhere to be found.
According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Randle did indeed bolt for the locker room as soon as the game was over.
Fans speculated that Jalen Brunson‘s tardiness in leaving the court in the postgame was due to Randle’s absence.
Brunson continued staring until he finally gave it up while seemingly uttering something under his breath with his towel covering up his mouth.
Although it’s total speculation at this point, there isn’t a surprised Knicks fan. In five years with the Knickerbockers, Randle experienced his fair share of decorum-type incidents. The three-time NBA All-Star had been mired in trade rumors for a long time while in the Big Apple.
Finally, this past October, team president Leon Rose finally pulled the trigger on a Randle deal. He sent the polarizing ball-dominant forward and Donte DiVincenzo to the T-Wolves for center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Speaking of the other big piece of the KAT deal, DiVincenzo did greet his former Knicks (along with some who are also former Villanova) teammates after the contest, per Bondy.
Randle finished the lopsided NBA game with 24 points on 8 of 17 from the floor. However, 15 of those points came in the first quarter, which helped keep Minnesota in the game.
Once the second quarter arrived, the Knicks separated themselves in a big way, scoring 41 points in the second quarter.
The 17-10 Knicks next turn their attention to the Pelicans, who they’ll meet on Saturday night in New Orleans.
