Rajon Rondo: Kobe Bryant Meeting Was ‘Just Two A–holes Having Breakfast’

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Dec 6, 2014

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BOSTON — Rajon Rondo wasn’t looking to make a big deal over some bacon and eggs.

TheĀ Celtics point guard met Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant for breakfast Thursday, one day before their teams were set to square off at TD Garden.

Some old-school thinkers might considerĀ that to be odd or even unacceptable behavior for two competitors, but to Rondo, it was just a case of two friends getting together to talk basketball.

ā€œWe just talked about 2008, 2009, ā€™10 seasons,” Rondo said after Friday’s game, which the Celtics won 113-96. “Him being a leader leading a lot of young guys this season, me doing the same thing. The struggles heā€™s going through, the struggles Iā€™m going through as far as leading this team, and just how to handle it.”

Rondo and Bryant have long been rivals, with the former eliminating the latter in the 2008 NBA Finals and Bryant returning the favor two seasons later. Interestingly, Rondo said thatĀ mutual dislike was whatĀ brought the two stars together in the first place.

ā€œI think his initial ā€¦ I think he called me an (a–hole), and I thought the same thing of him,” he said. “It was just two (a–holes)Ā having breakfast.”

ThatĀ 2010 Finals loss remains a source of motivation for Rondo each time he sees the purple and gold.

ā€œThey stole the last championship from me in 2010,” he said. “So every time we play them, I want to kick their butt.”

Boston did just that Friday, blowing out L.A. behindĀ 24 points from Tyler Zeller and 16 assists from Rondo.

Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images

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