"It's Nobody's Fault But Yours": Williams Slams Departing Star

Craig Randall has no one to blame but himself for his sudden departure from the Adelaide 36ers, according to 2010 NBL MVP Corey Williams.

As more details emerge about the 26-year-old’s controversial exit from the league, Williams revealed he’d previously reached out to Randall in a bid to help him curb relationship issues with teammates and coaches.

“To see you arguing with the head coach (CJ Bruton) that believed in you, several coaches, your teammates … it can’t be them. If at some point ten people are saying “it’s you, it’s you” …. it’s you,” Williams said on NBL Overtime. 

Catch the full episode of NBL Overtime on the NBL App at 7.30pm AEDT on Tuesday night.

An incident at shootaround last week was said to have made the situation “untenable” between Randall and the club.

“I’m told there was a blow-up that was the straw that broke the camel’s back before the Perth game, when he was told he was going to be coming off the bench, that wasn’t handed well,” fellow panellist Liam Santamaria said.

“That was really where it become untenable.

“Sometimes there’s things that are said and things that are done that you can’t come back from. From there, the team was going to part ways.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CJ Bruton says Craig Randall II wanted to be with the <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a>, but both parties have moved on for the greater good.<br><br>Full story ?<a href="https://t.co/8BwTFciVza">https://t.co/8BwTFciVza</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1589815067637616641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Randall loomed as a potential star of the NBL after an outstanding performance in a famous win over the Phoenix Suns in early October. But beneath the surface, trouble has been brewing. 

“Here’s what I’m going to say to Craig Randall … it’s disappointing. I reached out to you and spoke to you. I had your back,” Williams said.

“Unprofessionalism … that’s what’s going to hurt you more than help you.

“I told you things you need to do. I told you how this country is. That nonsense that you do wherever you came from, you can’t do that here. Curb this, change this.

“You didn’t do your part. It ain’t nobody’s fault but yours.

“You’re a hooper. You’re not a pro. There’s a difference.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Craig Randall II is absolutely cooking for the <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> ?<br><br>He’s up to 30 PTS against PHX on NBA TV <a href="https://t.co/yz4laRliGA">pic.twitter.com/yz4laRliGA</a></p>&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1576785804218626048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Adelaide released a statement on Tuesday, announcing Randall’s exit, effective immediately.

“The decision has been made in the best interests of Craig and the club moving forward and for Craig to pursue other opportunities at the highest level,” the statement read.

It’s another blow to a roster touted as championship favourites in the pre-season.

The 36ers’ opening month has been underwhelming to say the least, anchored in eighth spot with just three wins from seven games. 

But Williams stood by his argument that the trio of Randall, Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland could have been one of the NBL’s best ever.

“This is really sad. I believe in him, I believe in that trio, because I know what I saw and what we all saw in Phoenix,” Williams said.  

“We saw the scoring ability and we saw that when this team is rolling, it wasn’t even close. 

“I saw what they did in Sydney. You’ve got a Defensive Player of the Year and you’ve got two MVP candidates, two superstars.”

This time around, it simply wasn’t to be.

“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent. I say that a lot,” Williams added. 

“In life you are either an asset or a liability … he’s a liability.”