Rajon Rondo signed a one year deal with the Sacramento Kings last summer for two reasons: one was to improve his standing as his pending free agency was approaching in the summer of 2016 and the other to make the Kings a contender in the Western Conference.
While Rondo did somewhat return to the form that made him a unique player for the Boston Celtics, apparently the tension between the coaching staff and Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was unlike anything he has witnessed, according to a report from ESPN.com. This blocked the team from progressing into the playoff contender we were expecting the team to be.
Via ESPN:
The 30-year-old point guard, who will be a free agent this offseason, said the Kings “didn’t sacrifice enough for one another” in 2015-16.
“There were too many distractions on and off the court. The organization as a whole, I don’t think was together completely. I think as a team you have to want the best for the next man beside you, and that wasn’t the case with the Sacramento Kings,” he said.
Of Cousins’ relationship with former Kings coach George Karl and his staff, Rondo said there was “a lot of tension at first.”
“Too much tension. I’ve never witnessed or experienced a thing like that in my 10-year career,” he said.
Despite that, Rondo said he tried to keep the team together by organizing dinners and getting his teammates in the gym. The Kings fired Karl after the season and later named Dave Joerger their new head coach.
