Rondo: "Not going too well" with Karl (Joke)

[kozlodoev]

I think Rondo was joking personally.  The Kings have been doing very well in preseason.

Watching the video, if he's joking he has the most straight-man delivery in the history of comedy. That makes Leslie Nielsen took animated...

That's always been Rondo's thing.  Deadpan humor / sarcasm.

My guess is it was intended to come across as "Well obviously (*exaggerated eye roll*) things are going just awful."

Elaborating to say "We got into a couple of arguments over the last several days" is just an odd continuation for a joke...

[Vermont Green]

It appeared to me that Rondo was just tolerating the interview, like he was made to do it by the team and he didn't want to.  He may have been kidding but I doubt it.  Karl has a specific way he wants to play and Rondo has a specific way he wants to play.

I have not seen any Sac preseason games but based on the limited body language I saw in the interview, I would say he is not having fun playing basketball right now.  If that is the case, that is really a shame.  This is really about his last chance and he is not going to succeed if his heart is not in it.

[jambr380]

It appeared to me that Rondo was just tolerating the interview, like he was made to do it by the team and he didn't want to.  He may have been kidding but I doubt it.  Karl has a specific way he wants to play and Rondo has a specific way he wants to play.

I have not seen any Sac preseason games but based on the limited body language I saw in the interview, I would say he is not having fun playing basketball right now.  If that is the case, that is really a shame.  This is really about his last chance and he is not going to succeed if his heart is not in it.

I read the comments before watching the video and was ready with my response on how he was joking, but after watching it, I completely agree with what you said. I am all for some Rajon humor, but he seemed pretty bummed out and 'tolerating' the interview seems pretty apt.

Now, I don't think it is the end of the world. It didn't seem like a make or break comment and he and Karl probably do have some things to work out.

[BitterJim]

I think Rondo was joking personally.  The Kings have been doing very well in preseason.

Even if Rondo is joking, it just goes further into showing how unaware he has become.  The dude got booted off of a team during the playoffs b/c his coach could not stand him, and to joke about his relationship with coaches at this point would show that he really has not learned a thing from that experience.  Either way, it's not a good look.

What does it matter?  Is the quote going to somehow make Karl think "[dang], maybe I haven't been getting along with him this whole time!"?

No.  All he's doing is trolling the media, which he's always done and doesn't really matter in the big picture.  Rondo's proved his whole career that he doesn't care what the media or people in general think about him, he's not gonna start caring now

[Eddie20]

I think Rondo was joking personally.  The Kings have been doing very well in preseason.

Even if Rondo is joking, it just goes further into showing how unaware he has become.  The dude got booted off of a team during the playoffs b/c his coach could not stand him, and to joke about his relationship with coaches at this point would show that he really has not learned a thing from that experience.  Either way, it's not a good look.

What does it matter?  Is the quote going to somehow make Karl think "[dang], maybe I haven't been getting along with him this whole time!"?

No.  All he's doing is trolling the media, which he's always done and doesn't really matter in the big picture.  Rondo's proved his whole career that he doesn't care what the media or people in general think about him, he's not gonna start caring now

If so, he should reconsider that mindset since it's cost him millions.

[sed522002]

FWIW, King's media is reporting that his comment was tongue-in-cheek and he was joking. Rondo should know that people don't get his humor..lol. Especially if there wasn't a huge laugh or smile afterward...but then again he doesn't care so I don't either really. He knows that this is a make or break year for him.

[BitterJim]

I think Rondo was joking personally.  The Kings have been doing very well in preseason.

Even if Rondo is joking, it just goes further into showing how unaware he has become.  The dude got booted off of a team during the playoffs b/c his coach could not stand him, and to joke about his relationship with coaches at this point would show that he really has not learned a thing from that experience.  Either way, it's not a good look.

What does it matter?  Is the quote going to somehow make Karl think "[dang], maybe I haven't been getting along with him this whole time!"?

No.  All he's doing is trolling the media, which he's always done and doesn't really matter in the big picture.  Rondo's proved his whole career that he doesn't care what the media or people in general think about him, he's not gonna start caring now

If so, he should reconsider that mindset since it's cost him millions.

Has it, though?  He's getting $9.5 million this year, and I don't think being friendlier with the media would have changed that

[PhoSita]

I think Rondo was joking personally.  The Kings have been doing very well in preseason.

Watching the video, if he's joking he has the most straight-man delivery in the history of comedy. That makes Leslie Nielsen took animated...

That's always been Rondo's thing.  Deadpan humor / sarcasm.

My guess is it was intended to come across as "Well obviously (*exaggerated eye roll*) things are going just awful."

Elaborating to say "We got into a couple of arguments over the last several days" is just an odd continuation for a joke...

That's true.

I agree with others who have said that even if it is a joke, it's a poor one that demonstrates a lack of awareness of -- or, more likely, any care for -- the situation he is in.


The difficulty for Rondo is that he may not get a chance to really play the way he prefers to play, completely unrestrained, ever again.  The league has moved away from that style of play.  Only a truly exceptional all-around talent like Chris Paul could justify giving that level of control and dominance of the ball to one player.

[RJ87]

FWIW, King's media is reporting that his comment was tongue-in-cheek and he was joking. Rondo should know that people don't get his humor..lol. Especially if there wasn't a huge laugh or smile afterward...but then again he doesn't care so I don't either really. He knows that this is a make or break year for him.

Remember when he had that reporter convinced he was dropping a rap album? That was gold.

With that said, I've caught some of the kings games this preseason and he seems to be having a lot of fun with Cousins, their pick & roll is pretty.

[LarBrd33]

Rondo will have a bounce-back season statistically.

Wouldn't exactly take much.

I'll guess something like 10 pts 8 ast 5 reb 1.5 stl on .44 / .3 / .6 shooting in 28 minutes.

With at least a few triple doubles and 15+ assist games that get people around here pining after him again.

And despite that Darren Collison will have a better RPM and the Kings will still lose more games than they win.   


It's actually really amusing that Rondo is battling for minutes with Darren Collison, who at this point is more or less the prototypical "average starting point guard."  At one point in time I think I may have argued that the Celts would have been better off with Collison specifically because of his well-rounded yet unremarkable skillset.

I'm prepared for anything with the Kings.  There's talent there.  They will be one of the most interesting teams in the league this year.

[blink]

Grant Napear (who does the tv broadcasts for the Kings, and probably knows a lot more about the team than any of us) says Rondo has been using that joke since July and there are no issues between him and Karl:

https://twitter.com/GrantNapearshow/status/654342594487386113 


Rondo is an oddball, but from what I have read lately the Kings hardly seem disfunctional at this point.  I think they will be an interesting team to follow.

[littleteapot]

Grant Napear (who does the tv broadcasts for the Kings, and probably knows a lot more about the team than any of us) says Rondo has been using that joke since July and there are no issues between him and Karl:

https://twitter.com/GrantNapearshow/status/654342594487386113 


Rondo is an oddball, but from what I have read lately the Kings hardly seem disfunctional at this point.  I think they will be an interesting team to follow.

That just means there were issues between him and Karl since July 

[sed522002]

Rondo will have a bounce-back season statistically.

Wouldn't exactly take much.

I'll guess something like 10 pts 8 ast 5 reb 1.5 stl on .44 / .3 / .6 shooting in 28 minutes.

With at least a few triple doubles and 15+ assist games that get people around here pining after him again.

And despite that Darren Collison will have a better RPM and the Kings will still lose more games than they win.   


It's actually really amusing that Rondo is battling for minutes with Darren Collison, who at this point is more or less the prototypical "average starting point guard."  At one point in time I think I may have argued that the Celts would have been better off with Collison specifically because of his well-rounded yet unremarkable skillset.

I'm prepared for anything with the Kings.  There's talent there.  They will be one of the most interesting teams in the league this year.

Yep, they can either be a good team competing for the 8th seed or it could all blow up because of attitude problems. They definitely have the talent and did some good upgrades to their roster.

[SHAQATTACK]

All Rondo hate .

Ya'll be messed up when dey in the play offs.

[kozlodoev]

Has it, though?  He's getting $9.5 million this year, and I don't think being friendlier with the media would have changed that

There's a reason he's playing on a 1-year contract, and the fact that he kept generating negative press is certainly a part of it.