It’s hard not to feed into the “Rajon Rondo being Rajon Rondo’’ suspension scrapbook after Monday’s announcement from the Bulls that the veteran point guard would be suspended for tonight’s game against Portland, but that was exactly how the team was trying to spin it.
Prior to the conclusion of the morning shootaround, the Bulls announced that Rondo had been suspended for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.’’
Coach Fred Hoiberg would not go into details of that suspension, but a source said that Rondo got into a “heated argument with a [assistant] coach, and wouldn’t let it rest.’’ The confrontation happened Saturday, during what was an awful performance in Dallas by both the team and Rondo, and once calmer heads prevailed, both Rondo and the assistant “were over it,’’ the source said.
Still, the team thought it was enough of a distraction to go ahead and sit Rondo for one game, after he met with Hoiberg Sunday at the Advocate Center.
Definitely not the first time Rondo has been suspended by an organization in his 11-year career, as he had run-ins that cost him game checks in Boston, Dallas, and his latest in Sacramento last season, after the NBA suspended him for using a homophobic slur toward referee Bill Kennedy.
But the Bulls did their best to take this case individually, rather than throw it on the Rondo resume of six previous suspensions. At least that was the attempt.
“‘Do’s’ been great,’’ veteran guard Jimmy Butler said of the news. “I think this is just another bump in the road. He’s a phenomenal damn teammate and I back him on everything.’’
Hoiberg also defended Rondo’s reputation.
“Sure, I understand that,’’ Hoiberg said of Rondo’s history. “But I’ll say this, Rajon, as we’ve all said, has been great. A great teammate. I’ve enjoyed the relationship that we developed, and again it’s not going to change moving forward.
“I would absolutely agree with what Jimmy said. Absolutely.’’
The Bulls signed Rondo to a two-year, $28 million contract in the offseason, as the 30-year-old was averaging 8.2 points and 7.2 assists.
Jerian Grant will start in his place.
