Isaiah Thomas: Rajon Rondo Kept Bringing Up Tribute Video Before Confrontation That Led To Ejections
Former Celtics guards Isaiah Thomas and Rajon Rondo both got ejected from Wednesday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans after a brief confrontation after the whistle. Rondo wouldn’t say much about the incident after the game, but Thomas admitted what the former was saying before the two got into it.
He admitted that Rondo kept bringing up his elusive video tribute.
“Whatever reason, he’s an upset guy about me,” Thomas told reporters after the game, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s fine. He kept bringing the tribute up, when I was the one that shut the tribute down. I’m far past that. … For me to be ejected was uncalled for.”
Well, Thomas is right about that last part. To call this thing a “scuffle” or a “scrum” would be a gross overstatement and there didn’t appear to be much of a need to toss either of them. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that both are still acting like a couple of drama queens over something as indescribably trivial as a video tribute.
As a refresher, Rondo said this when asked about Thomas getting a video tribute: “What has he done? … This is the Boston Celtics. This isn’t the Phoenix Suns. No disrespect to any other organization, but you don’t hang conference titles. Do we hang going to the conference finals? What do we hang here?”
But ultimately, Rondo has a point there. And apparently he kept needling Thomas during the game with even more video comments. Honestly, he’s right. And he didn’t look any worse by driving Thomas over the edge over such a silly topic.
As thrilling and inspiring Thomas’ season was in the 2016-17 season for the Celtics, this season with the Cavs and Lakers has been pretty much the polar opposite. He’s been injured, he hasn’t played well on the court, and he’s acted petty off it. He’s managed to make Rondo look like the bigger man here, which should be harder to do than he just made it look.
Now everyone in the league knows how to throw Thomas off his game, if not get him T’d up and ejected. Considering that the Celtics still hold the Lakers’ first-round pick this summer, C’s fans should be rooting for more incidents like Wednesday night.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
