Chris Sheridan is reporting this bombshell (courtesy NESN):
One piece of information that has not come out during the alive/dead/alive/dead Celtics-Clippers trade talks is Rivers’ motivation in wanting to leave the Celtics.
It isn’t just that he doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuilding situation; it is because he has an intense dislike for point guard Rajon Rondo.
A source close to the Celtics tells Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com that Rondo dropped an F-bomb on Rivers in the locker room during a team meeting, and Rivers went after Rondo and tried to fight him before the fracas was broken up.
It’s not shocking to hear that a player and coach nearly came to blows. Egos, pressure and familiarity are a combustible mix.
It is a bit surprising that a report of this magnitude remained buried for months.
We know Rajon Rondo has a difficult personality. Plenty of great players do. But telling your coach to F-off in a team meeting is unacceptable behavior.
If Chris Sheridan is right and Doc Rivers has an intense dislike for Rondo, did Doc ever go to Danny Ainge and say “it’s me or him?”
You can listen to Sheridan and Bill Lekas of SiriusMadDog Radio discuss the incident. Scroll ahead to the 18 minute mark.
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