Former Knicks head coach says recent tirades by team’s star could hurt them in playoffs

If there’s a New York athlete who knows about navigating ups and downs with fans in the Big Apple, it’s Julius Randle.

During his Most Improved Player campaign in 2020-21, he was serenaded with MVP chants from New York Knicks fans.

The following year, during his struggles, he heard unfamiliar boos, which prompted him to give the fans a thumbs-down during a game.

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Julius Randle of the New York Knicks bumps into referee Brett Nansel, drawing a technical foul during the third quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden March 5, 2023, in Boston. (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Randle returned to All-Star form this season, and the Knicks were on the way to clinching a playoff berth before hitting a wall.

After a nine-game winning streak, they are 3-6 in their last nine.

Randle dropped 57 points in one of the losses and earned a technical in the matchup. On Thursday night, he got in the face of not only a referee but teammate Immanuel Quickley. 

It wasn’t his first outburst with things going south, either. But if the Knicks want to make a surprise run in the playoffs, Randle needs to cool it, says former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

Julius Randle (30) and Immanuel Quickley (5) of the New York Knicks argue in a game against the Orlando Magic at the end the second quarter at Amway Center March 23, 2023, in Orlando, Fla.  (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

“Emotion and passion lead to better play, but a lack of emotional control and poise lead to lesser play,” Van Gundy told The Post. “To play well in the playoffs, to play well in hard-fought, highly-contested, close games, ultimately you have to have your best players have a level of poise that leads them to be able to play through rough patches of games or a tough loss in a playoff series and to bounce back. Poise is so very critical to be able to handle late-game pressurized situations.

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“I think a couple of years back in the playoffs, [Randle] had some issues with that. I think he’s had to close games this year, had some challenges with that.”

Current head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for his hard-nosed coaching style, but Van Gundy says there’s not much Thibodeau can do in this situation. It’s up to Randle.

The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (11) holds back Julius Randle (30) as Randle argues with a referee after being ejected during the third quarter of a game against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden Dec. 11, 2022.  (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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“As far as what a coach can do, if this problem is to be corrected, it’s gonna be because Julius Randle wants to get it corrected,” Van Gundy said. “It can be punished by a coach or an organization. But it can only be corrected by the player.”

The Knicks are 42-33 and sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, they would face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.