McGraw: Questioning coaches is part of Rondo's makeup
Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo talked about his one-game suspension following Tuesday's game in Detroit, which the Bulls lost 102-91.
But the most insightful Rondo quote might have been spoken about 18 months ago during his short, unsuccessful stint with the Dallas Mavericks.
Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star Telegram resurrected the quote after Rondo's latest brush with team disciplinary action.
"I don't think there's one coach I've played with that I haven't got into it with," Rondo said in March 2015. "I like to test where the coaches are at and I think they like to test me.
"So I've gotten into a shouting match with a lot of my coaches in my past years. It started when I was around 6 years old. I got into it with my Little League football coach."
At first glance, it seemed odd that the Bulls made an example of Rondo, suspending him for one game after a verbal altercation with assistant coach Jim Boylen during last Saturday's loss.
A suspension like this doesn't happen often in the NBA, but it happened to Rondo in Dallas after a run-in with head coach Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks later released Rondo after Game 2 of a first-round playoff series against Houston.
Since joining the Bulls this summer, plenty of praise has been tossed at Rondo. He's been uneven on the court, but coach Fred Hoiberg raved about his leadership from the start of training camp. Hoiberg mentioned how Rondo arrived in town several weeks before camp began and endorsed the times Rondo stopped practice to address his teammates.
Likewise, Jimmy Butler spoke glowingly of Rondo's influence. Last Friday, the day before Rondo's run-in with the coaching staff, Taj Gibson gushed about what a great teammate Rondo had been, especially when it came to encouraging guys and staying positive.
So why not keep the altercation in-house or levy a fine? That's a tough one to answer. The Bulls obviously did their homework on Rondo and knew what they were getting into. They probably discussed how to handle this scenario before he even signed as a free agent.
Obviously, some people in the organization felt it was better to act now and maybe avoid any further problems. While supporting Rondo, Butler and Dwyane Wade were careful not to speak out against the suspension.
"These are the times you're glad you're a player," said Wade, who mentioned he did not witness the altercation. "My job is to support my teammate, reach out to him and make sure he's in good spirits, make sure he knows his teammates have his back. It's not my job to make those kind of decisions. It's their organization and they've done a good job of running it."
Carlisle continues to support Rondo, despite the bad ending in Dallas.
"I've recommended Rondo to a couple of teams that have called me about him the last couple of years," Carlisle told the Star-Telegram. "As a competitor you're not going to find a guy better or more resourceful. ... It just didn't work out here for various reasons."
After the game in Detroit, Rondo repeated that he prides himself in being a good teammate and admitted fault.
"I could have handled the situation better," Rondo said. "But when I feel a certain way, I'm going to speak on it. My whole thing is always for the betterment of the team. So if it comes off the wrong way or things of that nature, I'm trying to work on that; but for the most part, I'm not a selfish individual. I try to do what's best for the team. I try to watch film with my other teammates, as well. So it's just part of the game, part of who I am."
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Bulls game day
Bulls vs. San Antonio Spurs at the United Center, 8:30 p.m. Thursday
TV: TNT
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Outlook: Note the late start for Pau Gasol's return to Chicago. The Spurs own the league's second-best record at 18-4 and are a perfect 13-0 on the road. With Tim Duncan retired, SF Kawhi Leonard has further solidified his role as the team's best player, averaging 24.5 ppg. PF LaMarcus Aldridge is next at 17.0 ppg. San Antonio is being cautious with Gasol, 36, using him just 26 minutes per game. Still, Gasol is the Spurs' top rebounder (7.4) and third-leading scorer (11.4 ppg). PG Tony Parker didn't play Tuesday in Minnesota with a thigh injury. Coach Gregg Popovich estimated Parker is 50-50 to play against the Bulls. Parker and Patty Mills have split time almost evenly this season. The Bulls have beaten the Spurs at the UC the past two years.
Next: Miami Heat at the United Center on Saturday, 7 p.m.
- Mike McGraw