The Sacramento Kings officially welcomed Rajon Rondo to the team Monday night, inking the mercurial point guard to a one-year, $10 million deal.
Kings head coach George Karl and All-Star forward DeMarcus Cousins happened to be in the same building, and briefly put aside their public feud to share a super-awkward greeting.
Rondo says he’s confident that, despite all of the internal turmoil, things will work out for the Kings (and his career) next season.
Rondo: "It’s a great fit so far. We haven’t played any games, George hasn’t thrown me out of any practices yet so we’ll see how that goes."
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) July 14, 2015
Per the Sac Bee:
“We have a lot of time to get back on the same page,” Karl said. “Summer talk and summer drama I’ve always thought is hype, and so much of it is untrue. I’m not going to get into it. But Cuz and I, we have to work together to get that together, and I think we will.”
“I’m excited that everybody is doubting us,” Rondo said. “All the negative energy that’s going toward Sacramento as far as me coming and playing with Cousins and the George Karl thing, I think that’s pretty much blown out of proportion. But there’s a lot of naysayers, a lot of doubters, my whole entire career, even with the day I got drafted. I just love proving people wrong.”
“They’re going to get a great leader on and off the court and in the locker room,” Rondo said of what he brings. “I’m still learning myself, but I think if we surround ourselves with positive people, guys like Vlade, Bobby Jackson coming around, Peja Stojakovic, former players. With the great owner that we have now, I think the sky’s the limit.”
