New York Knicks forward Julius Randle has been fined by the NBA yet again, with the 27-year-old being forced to cough up $40,000 for hurling “hostile language” towards a referee.
The fine marks Randle’s fifth this season, bringing him to $155,000 in lost pay this year.
Byron Spruell, the president of League Operations, announced the fine on Tuesday evening, two days after the alleged incident on March 20 at Madison Square Garden, when the Knicks lost 108-93 to the Utah Jazz.
Randle had been talking with officials late in the game, when he uttered the fineable words, though the NBA did not specify what the 6′ 8″ big man said.
The announcement of yet-another fine comes just 19 days after Randle pushed a referee during an altercation with Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson, for which he was fined $50,000.
[READ ALSO: Knicks’ Julius Randle fined $50K for shoving ref, Cam Johnson]
Other incidents this year came when the team lost $25,000 in January for Randle’s refusal to address the media, along with a $25,000 fine earlier this year for using curse words in interviews and a $15,000 write-up for throwing a ball into the stands last October.
Randle missed the Knicks home game on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks with a minor leg injury.
When he’s on the court for the team, Randle has been an integral part of the Knicks lineup, adding defensive toughness and offensive prowess to the team, which is largely composed of younger players like R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
Randle is averaging 20.3 points per game this season, while also contributing 10 rebounds and 5.1 assists each contest.
The Knicks next game comes on the road in Charlotte against the Hornets.
In 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 30-42 record, and just 10 games remaining, the Knicks have only a slim playoff chance, which would see them need to surpass the Washington Wizards and catch the 36-36 Hawks to secure a spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament.
