Rajon Rondo has a history of butting heads with his coaches. So, while a brief comment following a preseason game might not be the greatest indication of what's to come, it's notable when the former All-Star point guard says his relationship with Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl "has not been going too well."
Rajon Rondo says he was joking about his beef with George Karl
Let’s hope this doesn’t end up like Rondo and Rick Carlisle.
Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off a disastrous season where Rondo often found himself fighting his coaches or sitting on the bench, this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear five games into the preseason. The point guard is known for giving deadpan answers to the media, so maybe this is just Rondo being Rondo.
"It’s not been going too well," Rondo said following the Kings' win over the Lakers on Tuesday night (via Manny Vieites of Cowbell Kingdom). "We got into a couple of arguments the last couple of days, but hopefully we continue to talk and get better."
The point guard told reporters on Tuesday he was just joking when making the comment:
Kings PG Rajon Rondo tells reporters he was joking and that he and George Karl do not have issues. pic.twitter.com/2ph5FW68E1
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) October 14, 2015 Rondo's one of the most gifted playmakers in the NBA, but he's also proving to be one of its most difficult personalities to manage. After being traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2014-15 season, Rondo struggled to fit into the team's locker room, publicly fought with coach Rick Carlisle and found himself benched by the end of the team's stunted playoff run.
The defining moment came in February, when Rondo ignored a timeout call from Carlisle on the sideline. The two could be seen screaming at each other in the huddle afterwards and Rondo got benched.
From there, the tone was set for the rest of the season.
All that allowed the Kings to get Rondo on a discounted one-year deal during the offseason, just a couple years after it seemed likely he would get a max contract. The hope is that a steady role from Day 1, a veteran coach in Karl and a starring cast including DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay can keep Rondo on his best behavior. He said he's enjoyed getting to know Gay and other players on the team. We're certainty far from the degree of dysfunction that plagued Rondo's relationships with the Mavericks by the end.
Still, this has to be something to watch in Sacramento. Karl has already butted heads with his star player, Cousins, in the past. He reportedly had an “intense desire” to trade Cousins over the summer. That largely seems to be in the rearview mirror as both sides get ready for the season, but for Rondo and Karl, this is supposed to be the honeymoon period. What happens when the two sides disagree on a play call in a key moment of a close game? What happens if the Kings slide into a big losing streak?
Rondo has said the Kings could “shock” people and we’ve seen Karl-coached teams reach surprising success in the past. There’s enough talent on the roster for Sacramento to make some noise, especially if Cousins reaches his potential and Rondo gets back on track. That second part will require the point guard to get along with his head coach, though, and based on the comments from Tuesday, that’s not a sure thing.
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