UPDATE (8:00 p.m. ET): Rondo clarified that his relationship with Karl was fine and that his earlier comments were just a joke.
Original story: Rajon Rondo and the Sacramento Kings are hoping to surprise people in the NBA’s ultra-competitive Western Conference this season, but their quest could be off to a rough start.
The Kings’ collection of impressive young talent and veteran experience makes them an intriguing team as the season opener approaches, and Rondo, the most notable offseason addition, talked about his relationship with head coach George Karl.
“It’s not been going too well,” Rondo told Cowbell Kingdom. “We got into a couple arguments the last couple of days. Hopefully, we continue to talk and it will get better.”
It’s possible Rondo was joking, and this is just an example of his deadpan humor.
But given his recent history, this could be a legitimate concern for the Kings. We all know Rondo isn’t the easiest person to deal with on the court; just ask his former head coaches Doc Rivers and Rick Carlisle. He has enormous talent, but he’s also stubborn.
Rondo is playing for a long-term contract after signing a one-year deal with the Kings over the offseason. His best decision would be to behave and prove he’s able to take coaching and criticism, while not being a distraction in the locker room.
Rondo hasn’t dazzled in the preseason with averages of 6.2 points and 5.6 assists through five games. He’s likely to enter the season as Sacramento’s starting point guard, but if his performance and his relationship with Karl don’t improve, he could find himself in an unfamiliar sixth man role at some point.
Thumbnail photo via Jennifer Stewart/USA TODAY Sports Images
