Celtics president Danny Ainge said in an interview on 98.5 FM The Sports Hub in Boston on Thursday that he wasn't surprised by Rajon Rondo's heated exchange with Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle during Tuesday's win over the Raptors, per CelticsHub.com.
"I know that Rondo is an emotional guy and feisty," Ainge said. "None of it really surprises me."
Rondo won a championship in 2008 with the Celtics and was shipped from Boston to Dallas in December to play out the final year of his contract. He served a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team after reportedly jawing twice with Carlisle -- in-game and again in the locker room after the game -- on Tuesday.
Carlisle stressed the importance of having Rondo back in the lineup for Dallas despite his suspension on Thursday, per ESPN. He will practice Friday and return to the floor on Saturday against the Nets. The embattled point guard has averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 25 games since being traded to the Mavericks.
"I want to stress and reiterate how important Rajon Rondo is to the Dallas Mavericks," Carlisle said. "For us to get where we want to get and we strive to get this season, his abilities have to be utilized by us the best possible way. That's in large part my responsibility, and I do not dodge that."
