Rajon Rondo Apologizes for Gay Slur Directed at NBA Referee Bill Kennedy

A day after Rajon Rondo offered what many felt was a non-apology for his derogatory comments toward referee Bill Kennedy—who announced he is gay in a Monday report by Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski—the Sacramento Kings point guard clarified his remarks in a statement, per Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report:

After the NBA suspended him for one game, Rondo originally tweeted, "My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period! They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone."

Rondo was ejected in a Dec. 3 contest against the Boston Celtics after Kennedy whistled him for two technical fouls. The point guard proceeded to stalk Kennedy on the court and unleashed a flurry of anti-gay slurs toward the referee.

Kennedy, 49, responded to Rondo's on-court tirade in a statement of his own.

“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man," Kennedy told Wojnarowski. "I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are."

Rondo, 29, had been a lone bright spot for Sacramento before this incident. After last season's dreadful stint with the Dallas Mavericks, he's averaged 12.6 points, 11.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game, posting huge numbers and making a case as a very attractive free agent come the summer. 

This incident will put Rondo back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons again, however, as the disputes with coaches that left the 10-year veteran labeled as a talented but difficult player to coexist with seemed to be behind him.