I really don't understand this fuss about "disrespect". Saying that he has a lot of baggage and isn't a team player is not the same as saying he is "garbage/team cancer".
You made an important point when you said that people "loved him in the past while he was playing hard". That is true. "WHEN HE WAS PLAYING HARD". You also said "he didn't anything wrong here". That's debatable. I would argue that not playing hard, bailing on the team for birthday parties, etc, is not exactly being a good team player. Just because someone earns respect doesn't mean that their future actions can't cause them to lose it. I HAD respect for Rondo, but that respect went out the window in his last few years in Boston and Dallas. The bottom line is that I want no part of seeing him in Green again. By comparison, I would LOVE to see Pierce in a C's uniform again because he was always about the TEAM and still is.
Yes, to me, it's a disrespect. Because when he played in Boston i'm sure guys you loved him, rooting for him, defended him. Not a bad word was said while he was playing for Celtics. And now, when it's a new trend hating on him, you forgot what this guy loved being here and what you were smiling when he dropped 40+points against the Heat in the PLAYOFFS or when he was healthy, basically all of you called him 'walking triple-double'. He had no problem with his teammates in Boston (well ugh Ray Allen right cause idk anymore maybe do you respect Ray now), did at least one person from his former teammates at least once strictly said what Rondo is a problem (locker room problem, whatever). And you know, no one in Dallas said so. It's just the media, mostly, and the haters. Do you have any interview from his teammates what shows opposite? Right after season, Charlie Villanueva in his blog mentioned few kind words about Rondo, even afterall this situations when season was over for Mavs. But as i said, what happened in Dallas must stay there. Cause he certainly had a problems with a coach and coach wouldn't give him a chance in the 3rd game against Rockets. So whatever, i'm not really want to say all these thing about the Mavs all over again.
He never gave up while playing for Celtics (playoffs mostly he had amazing journey). You saying what it's debatable when i've mentioned what he didn't do anything wrong in Boston. Okay, did you read interview by PP? This one:
I remember when Rondo re-signed with Boston, we had a little dinner at a restaurant and Ray didn't show up.
"I know Ray probably didn't like Rondo that much, but it wasn't a fact of not liking somebody. You don't have to like everybody you play with -- it's a matter of showing support. Rondo probably didn't like Ray either, but he came to Ray's functions to show, 'Hey, we're together in this.'
Did you read this? Huh Rondo was attented meeting. So now you actually chosen to remember some bad things (when he stayed in LA for one [dang] day while he was injured to celebrate his one bday), instead of good. It's your right. But somehow, he played in a team where was KG and PP and they all still keep in touch.