Bulls guard Rajon Rondo ripped teammates Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler in an Instagram post for their leadership qualities after they criticized younger teammates following a home loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. The Instagram post was retweeted by numerous media members, including Bulls beat writer Nick Friedell of ESPN.com.
Without naming Wade and Butler in the post, Rondo called out the duo for voicing their frustration about their teammates’ desire, effort and decision-making to the media after Chicago squandered a late lead to Atlanta. Rondo pointed to his early NBA years, when he was a young point guard, and said “my vets” — the post included a picture of former Celtics duo Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett — would not have gone public with those criticisms. He also questioned the Bulls’ duo work habits and approach to adversity.
Here is the full post:
“My vets would never go to the media. They would come to the team. My vets didn’t pick and choose when they wanted to bring it. They brought it every time they stepped in the gym, whether it was practice or a game. They didn’t take days off. My vets didn’t care about their numbers. My vets played for the team. When we lost, they wouldn’t blame us. They took responsibility and got in the gym. They showed the young guys what it meant to work. Even in Boston when we had the best record in the league, if we lost a game, you could hear a pin drop on the bus. They showed us the seriousness of the game. My vets didn’t have an influence on the coaching staff. They couldn’t change the plan because it didn’t work for them. I played under one of the greatest coaches, and he held everyone accountable. It takes 1-15 to win. When you isolate everyone, you can’t win consistently. I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a bad teammate. My goal is to pass what I learned along. The young guys work. They show up. They don’t deserve blame. If anything is questionable, it’s the leadership.”
Rondo, who has seen his playing time diminish after beginning the year as the team’s starting point guard, figuratively threw a stick of dynamite on an already volatile situation. Rondo aligned with his younger teammates at the expense of undermining Wade and Butler.
It will be interesting to see how Bulls management handles the controversy. Rondo is making a guaranteed $14MM but is now sharing time with Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams. His $13.4MM salary for next season is not guaranteed and the front office could decide to cut him loose sooner rather than later, given his public stance on the team’s leadership.
Thank you Gar Forman and John Paxson for creating this mess! #inGarwedonttrust #getridofGar #blowitup
Reinsdorf must be in a diaper at a home some where and can’t understand much or I know he’d fire the three morons in charge of the Bulls. It’s a disaster that may never get fixed for years to come. At least not by these three boneheads. (Paxon, Foreman,
Umm question rajon rondo…who is more successful? You or Dwyane Wade? That would be Dwyane Wade. Who is respected in the locker room, and around the league, a lot b/c of the culture and leadership he brings, and who is maligned, unwanted, and known to be an issue around the league, Dwayne Wade or Rajon Rondo? In summary, stfu Rondo lol
Both
I actually back rondo in this one
So you think team leaders should be going to the media and blaming their supporting cast?
Or are you saying the stars shouldn’t have to lead by example or try hard during work outs?
I’m saying that Wade knows when or when not to make a statement like this. Obviously, leading as an example and as a voice and keeping things in house hasn’t done anything. Sometimes, it’s important to talk about needing more when you’re trying to inspire guys. I admit, I personally was on rondo’s side through what has happened to him this season. But, I think he is doing some of what he is complaining about wade and butler doing in this statement, and he is also complaining about his own role in doing so, clearly salty about the bulls signing wade after signing him…and to question Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler’s work ethic is ridiculous, considering everything we all know about their work habits
…also hilariously, he postedhis comments with a pic of him on the celtics, and Ray allen isn’t in the pic lol. We all know of his issues with Ray Allen, so I thought the pic made it even more amazing
Obviously leading by example hasn’t done anything? How has he led by example?
He hasn’t played defense all year and that has absolutely rubbed off on the rest of the team.
I’m going to take Rondos word for the lack of effort in practice before I take yours.
Of course he is doing what Wade is doing. It’s called responding in kind and what Wade said needed to be answered in the same forum. Would you not answer reporters if you were called out in the media as a slacker and they lined up to hear your response?
Leaders blaming their supporting cast isn’t how this works. You don’t give all the money to 2 guys and then get to blame the fill ins for failure of the unit. If you do decide to blame the little guy you had better be prepared to accept them pointing the finger at you.
Who’s saying they don’t do that everyday and the younger guys still don’t care?
It’s funny that Rondo blasts them for using the media to air out their frustrations then hides behind Instagram to air out his.
I actually agree with Rondo’s sentiments here, but unfortunately he spoke up in the same manner as the two he chose to call out. Essentially, in response to feeling angered over hearing two players throw their teammates under the bus, he turned around and threw those two players under the bus instead. He should have aired his grievances to Wade and Butler privately to avoid the double standard.
How would that have helped? Do you think they would have been receptive and followed his example?
When someone dumps on you in public they broke new ground and you have to respond in public. It would be better if it never got started but ignoring it or pretending an out of favor player can go and get the top guys to respect everyone else is folly.
Dumping on the kids is unacceptable but holding the stars accountable is not.
Certainly I don’t think what Wade and Butler did was acceptable. I also wouldn’t say how Rondo handled it was unacceptable. I just think attempting to deal with it privately would have fit in better with the words he chose.
Exactly.
When will Rondo stop talking and just play basketball?
Given that Rondo played for Thibideaux in Boston and calls out a veteran player for influencing the coaching staff. I’m honestly asking if he is calling out Jimmy Butler for running Thibs out?
Rondo never played for Thibs. Doc Rivers coached in Boston.
Thibs was Doc’s assistant. Technically he played under Thibs.
True, I just didn’t think they were close enough for this to be a personal spat over the firing of a coach that took place before Rondo got to the Bulls.
I think that part was salt at them signing wade after signing him, and the coaching staff therefore changing the original plan
Did Butler run Thibs out of Chicago? Everything I’ve read suggests Butler and Thibs were close.
I wonder if this is partially Rondo’s thinking, but mostly the motivation of him possibly getting shipped out into a better situation for stirring the pot.
Veterans like Dwayne Wade and Jimmy Butler (more so Wade however), have every right to call out their young players if they feel that effort isn’t there night in and night out. They have earned that right with their career success. With that said, none of us were in the Bulls locker room during the “rant” so we will never know what exactly was said or how it was said. Rondo on the other hand has no credibility here. Sure he has a ring, but everywhere he has been, he’s been a locker room problem. If he’s trying to defend his younger teammates and call out his “vets” for their post game comments, Rondo needs to do so on a better more professional platform. Not posting cryptic messages on social media. That’s not what a team leader does. What happens in a locker room stays in a locker room.
*cough* Antonio Brown *cough* haha
Did you somehow miss the part about Wade ripping them to the media. It’s sort of the entire point. He wasn’t complaining or questioning their right to lead he was insulting their decision to do it in the press.
Try to keep up.
Or at least read what you are commenting on.
I totally agree with Rondo. I’m sure the young players appreciate it too. Wade is all about money. He will exercise his option to stay in Chicago. No matter what!!!
Yup. Wade is like that guy who is on year 18 of his vested 20 year pension.
He’s just here to say that he played for his hometown team, and because the Bulls were willing to give him top dollar.
He sits out 1 out of every 3 or 4 games to “rest.” I mean, c’mon guy, it’s beyond obvious what you’re doing. If you can’t hack it, then retire.
You’re not here to win anything. You’re just collecting a paycheck and putting in minimal effort while doing it.
Continued…..
I wish I could go to work everyday and tell my boss “Yea, I’m gonna be sitting this one out today. Need a little rest. Give my work to Denzel. Oh, and no calls, please. I’ll be passed out at my desk.”
He’s played 42 out of 47 games this year. You’re just mad because he’s making money and you probably hate your job. Not to mention he actually has to work for his job outside of work and most people don’t have surgically repaired knees in a job that literally requires insane athleticism, but yeah sure go ahead and say he’s taking it easy. He has 3 rings, a hall of fame career, and could’ve retired already. You can rip his shooting percentages which are the worst of his career but ripping his effort? That’s a joke. Btw 42/47 is very close to 90%
I have a great job. Thanks. Not sure what that has to do with the conversation. Anyway….
Guess what, DWade fan girl? That’s FIVE GAMES TOO MANY. If he can’t hack it, then he should retire.
I stand by my comment. He’s here collecting a paycheck and living out a dream he had growing up. If he really cared about the Bulls, he’d give them next year’s salary and retire or go somewhere else.
The sitting out is becoming much more frequent. Over the past 12 games, he’s sat out 3 times. Sorry, but that signals to me that he can’t hack it anymore.
I actually agree with Rondo 100% here. This coming from someone who dislikes him and criticizes him all the time.
Butler is no leader. He never was and he never will be. He’s too immature and selfish. This guy’s ego can barely fit in the United Center. I completely agree with Rondo.
So Rondo criticizes his team-mates for airing dirty laundry in public, by airing dirty laundry in public. Right.