On Gilbert Arenas' show "Gil's Arena," former NBA power forward Kenyon Martin expressed an issue he had with New York Knicks star Julius Randle at the end of his team's Game 5 win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Martin said he didn't understand why instead of immediately celebrating with his teammates after the game ended, the All-NBA forward went to kiss his wife on the sidelines.
Kenyon Martin on Julius Randle
— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) May 12, 2023
(via @HecBreezo) pic.twitter.com/X3dD6hHv9X
We often hear that athletes tend to get in a zone, especially during the playoffs when a team's season is on the line. For many, as Martin seems to allude to about himself, they can be so caught up in that intensity that nothing and no one else exist, even seconds after the game is over.
For others, there very well could be an off switch, or at least the final buzzer can act as the release valve for all the physical and mental stresses of a game. To this point, Martin's comments make sense, but only if Randle had even close to the same temperament as he did when he was an active player.
However, as we've seen throughout Randle's time in New York, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. The criticism feels relentless at times, from his infamous "thumbs down" last season to the handful of moments he chose to not speak to the media after a bad loss (or in Game 4 of the series against Cleveland, his benching) and the constant observations of his body language when the Knicks struggle.
Martin's issue is benign in comparison, if you can even call it one. The late Kobe Bryant frequently connected with his wife Vanessa at the end of games. We often see Boston's Jayson Tatum looking for his son after the final buzzer.
Randle has always looked for his wife and son after the game, but Martin probably wouldn't have made his comment if there wasn't already a history of criticism over Randle's demeanor.
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