“I Really don’t Give A F**k What Anybody Has To Say": Knicks' Julius Randle On Criticism

After the New York Knicks' feelgood 2020-21 season, it's been a much different atmosphere around the team this season, as they sit tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference. And 2021 Most Improved Player Julius Randle is taking the brunt of the heat. When asked what it's like hearing about it from fans and media, Randle went into an expletive-laced answer:

I really don’t give a f**k what anybody has to say, to be honest. I’m out there playing. Nobody knows the game out there better than I do, compared to what everybody has to say. So, I really don’t give a sh*t. I just go out there and play.

And that comes after what might have been his best game of the season, a 30 point, 16 rebound effort in a Knicks' 104-94 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Imagine what he might have said after a loss.

The fact is, Randle simply doesn't look like the same player he was last year when he won the Most Improved honors. His scoring is down almost 5 points a game, his assists are down from 6 to 4.9 per game, and his shooting is way off across the board—on twos, threes, and at the line.

But he's not fazed by any of the criticism coming his way from all quarters. Asked if he pays any attention to what's said on social media, sports radio, TV or any other public forum, his terse answer was, "Why?... Does it matter?"

As for head coach Tom Thibodeau, he was more than thrilled to get Randle back from his 5-day health and protocols stint, and he'll remain thrilled to have him, going forward.

"One of the best late night calls I ever got"

Tom Thibodeau talks about managing Julius Randle's minutes going forward coming back from health and safety protocols, and hearing how Randle felt last night on the phone pic.twitter.com/W8lh08wVwz
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 5, 2022