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Rajon Rondo went out of his way this week to say an unkind thing about the Phoenix Suns. That’s not altogether a bad thing though, because I learned he plays for the New Orleans Pelicans. I may have otherwise gone the rest of the season without knowing that.
Following New Orleans’ 116-113 win over Boston on Tuesday night Rondo was nonplussed after hearing the news that former Celtics, and Suns, now Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas would be honored when Cleveland visits TD Garden in Boston later this season.
Rajon Rondo was irked to hear that the Celtics would honor Isaiah Thomas on any night. "What has he done?” Rondo asked. Told that he led the Celtics to the conference finals last year, Rondo remarked, “Oh, that’s what we celebrate around here?”
— Bill Doyle (@BillDoyle15) January 17, 2018
“What has he done?” Rondo asked, according to The Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s Bill Doyle. The Pelicans guard was informed that Thomas led the C’s to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. “Oh, that’s what we celebrate around here?”
“This is the Boston Celtics. This isn’t the Phoenix Suns,” he continued. “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?”
A voice chimed in with, “title banners.”
“Ok cool,” Rondo said.
Well at least there’s no disrespect.
Thomas spent 46 games with the Suns before he was traded to the Celtics in February of 2015. His career in Boston spanned 2 1⁄2 seasons. He was dealt to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving last offseason.
Rondo was with the Celtics for the first nine seasons of his career. He was part of Boston’s 2008 championship team. Since then he has spent time with the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, and evidently the Pelicans. He was drafted by the Suns 21st overall in the 2006 NBA Draft.
Cavs host the Pelicans Friday, March 30th if you think this is a rivalry you want to get into.