'Grateful' Kendra Randle Tears Julius' Kiss Critics After Knicks' Win

If only a kiss was the New York Knicks' biggest issue this weekend.

Though the Knicks' season is over, a prosperous 2022-23 campaign closing with a 96-92 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday, their All-Star Julius Randle is dealing with the aftershocks of a supposed controversy that transpired after their final victory of the season.

Already dealing with critics that claim he's not fit for metropolitan playoff basketball (averaging 18.8 points and shooting just over 41 percent in the six-game loss to Miami), Randle drew the ire of former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin for reasons beyond the box score during Game 5 on Wednesday night. As the final seconds of a 112-103 victory ticked away, Randle went to Madison Square Garden's courtside seating, ignoring the plentiful celebrity representation to kiss his wife Kendra.

Kenyon Martin on Julius Randle
(via @HecBreezo) https://t.co/X3dD6hHv9X
— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) May 12, 2023

Martin vented on "Gil's Arena," an internet talk show hosted by another NBA alum, Gilbert Arenas.

"We just got done playing a hard fought game in a playoff series and the first thing (he does is) kiss his wife," Martin declared. "That’s the first thing you do? Where is your mind at? The very first thing he did ... when the game was over."

Martin, the first pick of the 2000 NBA Draft, played 15 NBA seasons, including a 50-game stint in New York in 2013-14.

"I am sitting there watching the game with my wife," he continued. "I'm like, ‘I love you to death, but ain’t no way in that incident. I’m going be with my guys. We just got done winning, I'm not even thinking about you.'"

Kendra took to Twitter to address the supposed controversy, blaming the overreaction to the kiss on a "slow news day."

😂😂😂 slow news day I guess. Both of us grew up in single parent homes. We never saw our dads respect our mothers. I’m so grateful my kids get to grow up watching their dad be the best father and husband❤️ https://t.co/hzBFd7fLoP
— Kendra Randle (@KendraRandle_) May 13, 2023

"Both of us grew up in single parent homes," Kendra Randle said. "We never saw our dads respect our mothers. I’m so grateful my kids get to grow up watching their dad be the best father and husband."

Kendra is the mother to Randle's two children, Kyden and Jayce.

"By the way that (kiss) was after a win," Kendra added. "He would never be in the mood to kiss or even talk after a loss lol. But talk about real issues. Not a husband and father loving his family."

Though Randle's season is over, his fourth tour of New York saw him earn a career-best in scoring (25.1 per game), his second All-Star Game appearance, and inclusion on the All-NBA Third Team. In the Game 5 victory, Randle started 1-of-7 from the field but hit each of his final six from the field including a three-pointer just before the halftime horn that would give the Knicks a lead that proved permanent.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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