Unsurprisingly, Rondo didn’t return to the game thereafter…
Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle wasn’t happy with point guard Rajon Rondo on Tuesday night, but he probably didn’t expect him to respond after calling a timeout.
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A frustrated Carlisle called a timeout during Tuesday night’s win over the Toronto Raptors, and he had some specific words for Rondo as he walked back to the bench.
After the former Boston Celtics star responded with a few choice words of his own, he didn’t return to the game and was benched for the final 20 minutes.
Carlisle called the exchange an “emotional moment” and “difference of opinion” but insisted that as far as he was concerned, the issue was over, Brad Townsend tweeted.
Meanwhile, Rondo refused to answer questions after the game and merely told reporters to “discuss it with Rick”.
Given that Dallas turned around a nine-point deficit into a seven-point win with Rondo off the court, it could be argued that Carlisle merely made a coaching decision to leave him out.
However, it is clear that he was already angry with him after their war of words and so it remains to be seen if both men can move past their issue and continue to work together for the rest of the reason.
The Mavs acquired Rondo last month in a trade deal to upgrade at the point guard position, but even if they go on to make a deep run in the playoffs, it is unclear as to whether Rondo will re-sign with the franchise in the summer as Kobe Bryant has previously insisted that he isn’t done trying to recruit him for the Los Angeles Lakers.
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