Ah, the Sacramento Kings: the beacon of all that is messy and convoluted in the NBA. After firing Mike Malone after a hot start last season and hiring George Karl as his replacement, the Kings have gone through a multitude of disputes and arguments in the locker room. While the rumors of a rocky relationship between Karl and star center DeMarcus Cousins have died down as they have reconciled, a new personality clash may have just emerged.
In an interview with Cowbell Kingdom, recent free agent acquisition Rajon Rondo was asked about his relationship with his new head coach. In response, Rondo had this to say:
It’s not been going too well. We got into a couple arguments the last couple of days. Hopefully, we continue to talk, and it will get better.
Obviously, arguments between players and coaches are common, and in some ways should be encouraged as they can be a sign of two people working hard to make a team as good as possible. In this case, however, the comments are enough to make one cringe. Rondo has been noted as a notoriously difficult player to coach, with his arguments with both Doc Rivers and Rick Carlisle wildly known and acknowledged. On the other side, Karl has also been known as a stubborn coach who too often takes the “my way or the highway” approach with his players.
The Kings have a ton of personality on this roster especially between Karl, Rondo, and Cousins. With hopes of a playoff berth as early as this season, they must be able to put aside their differences and work together. If they are unable to do so, their lack of success this season will be the least of their problems.
The interview Rondo did with Cowbell Kingdom is actually not serious, according to the man who interviewed Rondo himself, James Ham.
Hearing that Rondo's comments in the locker room last night were tongue and cheek. Should had clarified, but he thought it was understood.
— James Ham (@James_Ham) October 14, 2015
Yes, tongue in cheek…my bad.
— James Ham (@James_Ham) October 14, 2015
