Rajon Rondo Suspended by Mavericks: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Following a heated on-court exchange with head coach Rick Carlisle, Rajon Rondo has been suspended by the Dallas Mavericks.
Per ESPN's Marc Stein, the Mavericks are suspending Rondo for Wednesday's game against Atlanta due to detrimental conduct:
"Mavericks announce they've suspended guard Rajon Rondo one game for conduct detrimental to the team
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 25, 2015"
Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com reported that Rondo will practice Friday and be in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Brooklyn Nets.
On Friday, Rondo told reporters that everything is back to normal:
".@RajonRondo assures everyone that everything is back to normal. Full video in http://t.co/vZiTUFYGPe later today! https://t.co/yigTpn76Fe
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 27, 2015"
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News also reported from Rondo on past frustrations:
"The most important thing is communication with coach. When I first got here we were talking a lot, watching film a lot after every game. He’s backed off a little with the addition of Amar’e (Stoudemire) trying to help him get up to speed. But our communication was great at first. Not that it wasn’t so great (recently), but we weren’t communicating enough for me, I don’t think. And vice-versa on his side. I think I just got built-up frustration.
"
Carlisle commented on Wednesday's news, via Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram:
"Carlisle on Rondo: "I need to say this very clearly: He is an extremely important part of our team."
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) February 25, 2015"
""He needs to play well with us and we need to play well with him. It’s a two-way street.'' -- Carlisle on Rondo
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) February 25, 2015"
Here's the video of Rondo and Carlisle arguing during the third quarter of Dallas' win against Toronto on Tuesday night:
After the game, even though he didn't get into specifics of the argument, Carlisle said it involved a "difference of opinion," via ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon:
MacMahon also reported that Rondo and Carlisle had another heated exchange following Tuesday night's game.
Rondo has always had a combative personality, as he was reportedly a key reason why Doc Rivers wanted to leave Boston following the 2012-13 season.
Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders alluded to how this could affect Rondo's impending free agency this offseason:
On the other hand, face of the franchise Dirk Nowitzki believes this could be just the sort of thing the Mavericks need to rally his team together, recalling a previous situation that occurred with Jason Terry four years ago, per Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News:
"Sometimes dust-ups can even bring you together. I remember Coach had a dust-up with Jet right before the playoffs in 2011 and that probably was the best thing that happened to us — was Jet was on his best behavior throughout the whole playoffs.
Sometimes stuff like that can bring both sides together.
"
Since Dallas acquired him in December, Rondo's numbers have taken a dive. He's averaging more points (9.0) per game, but his assists (6.2) and rebounds (4.5) per game have declined considerably from those he had with Boston.
