There have been a few trade rumors involving the Boston Celtics star point guard Rajon Rondo this off-season. For those not paying close enough attention it would boggle your mind why the Celtics would even consider such a move as Rondo is the catalyst of the teams offense. But if you watch and listen closely you can see little glimpses or hear anecdotes of temperamental issues with Rondo when he is being criticized by teammates and the coaching staff. We’ve heard about this character flaw with Rondo since his days at Kentucky, but many thought he was passed all that until we heard this story from last spring’s post-season series against the Miami Heat on SB Nation this week:
According to multiple sources, Rondo’s errors were being pointed out when he arose and began discussing the mistakes of his teammates. Loudly. Using harsh language.
Coach Doc Rivers got up and fired back, and Rondo threw a bottle that shattered the video screen. He bolted from the practice facility and was prevented from returning when he tried later.(Source SB Nation)
Here is what Rondo had to say about the event when pressed to describe what happened:
“It had nothing to do with Doc,” Rondo said of the outburst. “Doc said something to me because nobody else said something to me. But it wasn’t directed toward Doc. I was frustrated about the loss. I think we were 0-2, I was on film a lot and I was frustrated. Doc wasn’t even running the clips. I was just venting. Lawrence Frank and coach (Armond) Hill were running the film session. Doc was just sitting on the floor. I was just frustrated, and I wanted things to be addressed that weren’t being addressed. It’s as simple as that. I stood up and I did what I did. Doc stood up and said something, and that was it. I stormed out and left. That was it.
“I went home that night and thought about my actions. I talked to KG (Kevin Garnett), and I came back the next day and apologized to the team.” (Source Boston Herald)
But Rondo is now telling the Celtics staff and anyone who will listen that he has matured during the off-season, done some soul searching and now realizes he can’t put the blame on his teammates. That he needs to lead by example to help get the team to the championship level. If there is sincerity in what Rondo is saying, the Celtics better hold onto the star guard, because even those who have been calling him ‘tempermental’ for years can’t deny his talent:
“I’ve got to take myself out of the equation,” Rondo said the other day. “It’s about the team. I’ve been saying all I want to do is win a championship, so I have to live it. I have to walk it. I can’t just talk it. I know I have to be better.”
