Sydney Kings guard Jerome Randle says Andrew Bogut’s halftime walk off wasn’t a good look
ANDREW Bogut has been criticised for storming off at halftime of the Sydney Kings’ loss to defending champions Melbourne United, as tensions continued to rise for the struggling pre-season favourites.
Kings
Don't miss out on the headlines from Kings. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SYDNEY Kings guard Jerome Randle says Andrew Bogut’s halftime walk off during Monday’s loss to Melbourne wasn’t a good look for the team.
Emotions reached breaking point late in the first half against United when a frustrated Bogut broke from the group and stormed to the sheds.
MORE NEWS
TROUBLE: United down Kings in battle of NBL heavyweights
THEY’RE BACK: Big-dunking Simmons, Embiid fire 76ers
Randle believes the outburst was over the top but he revealed it had been addressed within the playing group.
“If he (Andrew) is going to storm off like that, then those are things that he needs to deal with within himself,” Randle said.
“I don’t think that was good for the team to see, him storming off like that.
“But at the end of the day he is only human and we all get frustrated.
“It is what it is, he’ll be all right.
“But for the most part he isn’t showing that within the team. We spoke about it afterwards, we figured it out and we just have to move on.”
Randle conceded his offensive connection with Bogut was a work in progress but is confident the pair will discover their groove.
“It’s growing,” he said.
“I think it is more growing for the team. I think everybody is still stuck on the one-two punch with Jerome and Bogut but we are still learning each other and for the most part we are just trying to figure out each other as a team.
“We are still trying to figure out our identity as a team and who is what.”
Bogut is averaging 12 points and league highs in rebounds (12.3) and blocks (3.1) per game to go with four assists.
“Andrew is doing well. He has had a couple of great games but I’m not playing my style of basketball and I have to step it up,” Randle said.
Randle has put pressure on himself to improve heading into Saturday’s vital clash against the 36ers in Adelaide.
The 175cm point guard is averaging 18.6 points per game, sixth best in the league, but said he needed to improve his scoring output.
“At the end of the day, I’m not playing well,” he said.
“I’m not playing my style of basketball and I need to be more aggressive, put some points on the board and lead the team.
“I need to be more of a threat and be someone who gets the ball in my hand in the crucial moments to take over the game.”
Randle said his teammates were “pissed off” after their seven-point loss to defending champions Melbourne on Monday.
For all their disappointment, he insists the Kings have plenty of positives to focus on.
“There were a lot of great things that we did,” he said.
“We are playing better defence and we have to figure out a way to bring that defensive mindset every week.
“We just have to put it all together.”
The pressure is mounting on the Kings to back up their potential and perform consistently but Randle has called for calm.
“I think people are panicking,” he said.
“Everyone is panicking about losing to Melbourne but they are a good team.
“It’s hard to play against them at home.
“But we played a great defensive game and we just didn’t score as well.
“So there is no need to panic. We just need to peak at the right time.”
Foxtel is your home for LIVE NBA, NBL & WNBL action. Get Sport HD + Entertainment with no lock in contract and no iQ4 set up costs. SIGN UP TODAY! T&C’s Apply
How Longley lured the NBL’s ‘Beast’ to the Kings
Keli Leaupepe is the Kings’ self-confessed ‘Beast’, but if it wasn’t for Luc Longley he would be flexing his muscles for the Phoenix. This is how the hoops legend changed the course of NBL25.
Crosscourt: Gazey’s left-field pick for return of Boomers’ coach
The hunt for the Boomers’ next head coach is heating up, and hoops legend Andrew Gaze has floated a left-field option. We take a closer look at all the contenders, and more in this week’s Crosscourt.