In today’s game, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team with a more passionate and loyal fanbase than the New York Knicks. Despite years of mediocrity, the fans stuck around and continued to fill the arena.
When they finally became something decent a season ago, Knicks fans were giddy with excitement and rode with their team to the bitter end.
This season, things have gone back in the wrong direction, and New Yorkers haven’t been quiet about expressing their displeasure.
Earlier this week, after another rough start, fans took to booing their team in Madison Square Garden, leading Julius Randle to throw a thumbs-down sign towards the crowd. Apparently, it was his way of telling them to “shut the f*ck up.”
For ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, however, it was just an overreaction that speaks to the level of sensitivity held by today’s players.
“Players today are too damn sensitive. Players today are too damn sensitive. You know what you’re signing up for, you know what this New York Knicks fan base is capable of doing. You know what the expectations are. Before Julius Randle signed that $100+ million contract extension, he knew how hostile the fans could get. He set the bar there last year. They went to the playoffs, they were a top-five seed, They came into this season with high expectations. They signed Evan Fournier, they brought back Kemba Walker. Here they are sitting in the 10th spot. What are they supposed to say? Good job? Keep up the good work?”
“Players today are too damn sensitive. … you know what you’re signing up for … [Julius Randle] know how hostile the fans can get!”
—@KendrickPerkins on Julius Randle’s thumbs down gesture. pic.twitter.com/mA2MiqeQkG
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 7, 2022
Of course, Perk wasn’t the only one to call out Randle. Charles Barkley put it perfectly while on the air of ‘Inside the NBA’ on Thursday.
“I never understand why players think you are supposed to be cheered when you’re playing bad,” said Barkley, via R.P Salao of Clutch Points. “No, you’re gonna get booed when you’re playing bad and you’re gonna get cheered when you win. … Are they supposed to cheer when you’re playing bad? As a player, this is the way this thing works. We ain’t doctors. We ain’t lawyers. If you play good, people cheer you. If you play bad, people boo you. That’s the deal you make with fans.”
While no player likes being booed (except maybe if you’re Trae Young), it just comes with the business, and especially so if you play for the Knicks.
New Yorkers don’t like to sugarcoat things, and that goes for their sports teams, too. Since the Knicks aren’t meeting expectations, it should be expected that fans make their frustrations known.
Hopefully, Randle can help end the booing by bringing the Knicks back to a respectable place in the East.
