Sydney’s Randle back at scene of the grime
JEROME Randle lit a fuse under last season’s finals with an outburst aimed at the Illawarra Hawks so perhaps it was inevitable that his Sydney Kings debut would be in Wollongong.
“There’s a lot of dirty players on the team, that is how they play – fight first, play basketball second,” the then- Adelaide 36er said on the eve of the semi- finals series against the Hawks. Illawarra used the point guard’s criticism as inspiration to end the 36ers’ season.
Randle makes his NBL return tonight in Sydney’s purple and gold and he expects the Hawks’ faithful to unleash a barrage of boos, but says he won’t be taking a backwards step.
“I know it is not going to be a good welcome for me, but it is what it is,” Randle said.
“It happens. It’s basketball and it’s a part of the game. But I’m a basketball player and I don’t listen to the fans, at all.”
Last season’s league MVP worked under Hawks coach Rob Beveridge during the NBL’s All- Australian tour of China in July and Randle said it deepened his respect for the mentor.
“People have to understand that Rob is a great coach,” Randle said. “He was my coach in China and I got to know him a little bit better.
“It’s not easy to go against a coach and a team that throw so many different offences against you. It’s a big challenge when I play against Illawarra.”