Knicks fans aren’t happy with Julius Randle after getting eliminated by the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals — and they appear to have taken it out on his likeness.
After he finished with just 15 points on 3-for-14 shooting (1 of 7 from 3-point range), the New York faithful slammed — literally and figuratively — the two-time All-Star and All-NBA forward.
(Warning Adult Language)
A group of Knicks fans stomped on a Randle poster as attendees exited the Madison Square Garden watch party following the loss on Friday night.
The same poster had “trade me” spray painted over Randle’s face before the incident.
Knicks fans and Randle have long had a fraught relationship.
The 28-year-old Kentucky product has drawn boos on numerous occasions from the MSG crowd.
During a game in January 2022, Randle gave Knicks fans a thumbs-down gesture and later said the gesture was “to shut the f–k up’’ when asked what it was for.
Randle has two years and nearly $60 million left on his four-year, $117 million deal he signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2019.
After his play took a step back last season, Randle made the NBA All-Star team for the second time in his career this season, averaging 25.1 points and 10 rebounds on 45.6 percent shooting and helping lead the Knicks to a 47-35 record alongside free-agent addition Jalen Brunson.
But it was his playoff performance – where he averaged just 16.6 points and 8.3 rebounds on 37.4 percent shooting — that helped lead to the sour ending.
Despite disappointment from their supporters, the Knicks’ 2022-23 season was one of the best in recent history.
New York advanced to the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2013 season.