by The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and the organization is looking for its first playoff series victory since 2013.
But Julius Randle was benched for the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 4 win, and the All-Star did not speak to reporters after the game.
Former basketball player Charles Barkley cheers on the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on March 4, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
It was a move that disappointed NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
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“That was disappointing. I hate players, and I like Julius Randle – he’s a very good player and a good guy,” Barkley said. “I hate players who only talk to the media when things are going well. It does not work like that.
“And, what disappoints me the most, his team actually won. First of all, he wasn’t playing well, but you can’t talk to the press only when things are going well. But also, if your team won the game, you’re supposed to that you should be happy they won the game. That’s very disappointing from a great player who’s a good guy.”
Randle, who has been dealing with an ankle injury since the end of the nba regular seasonhe struggled in Game 4, scoring just seven points on 3-10 shooting from the floor.
Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks looks on before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 18, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
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During the series against the Cavaliers, Randle has struggled to maintain his regular-season offseason numbers, averaging just 14.8 points per game in four games after racking up 25.1 points per game during the regular season.
After the Game 4 victory, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised the big man for battling his ankle injury to be available in the first round.
“Julius is our horse,” Thibodeau said. “He’s given us everything he’s got. A lot of guys probably wouldn’t even be playing. So, he knew that with the quick change, he’d probably impact him more than most guys.”
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau yells to his players during the first quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 18, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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“He was out for a long time. So, we have several days here before the next game. He’s going to have a chance to recover, but I think that’s a big part of it. But what I like about him is that he gives you everything he’s got. And to come back like he did, to be ready for Game 1, credit to him. And we need it. He’s out.”
Randle sprained his ankle on March 29 against the Miami Heat and missed the last five games of the regular season.
“At the end of the day, I just want to win,” Randle said Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News. “I’m a competitor. Obviously I’d like to play, you know? But like I said, it’s Thibs’ decision.”
The Knicks have a chance to clinch the series on Wednesday when they face the Cavs in Cleveland for Game 5.
