The Chicago Bulls suspended guard Rajon Rondo for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, the club announced Monday.
Rondo will serve his one-game suspension Monday night when the Bulls host the Portland Trail Blazers at the United Center. Jerian Grant will start.
Rondo had an emotional exchange with associate head coach Jim Boylen during and after Saturday's loss to the Mavericks, according to a source. One source said Rondo threw a towel in the direction of Boylen during the game, although that couldn't be confirmed by a second source.
Rondo quickly apologized to the coaching staff and his teammates, the source said. He met with coach Fred Hoiberg on Sunday and also attended a team function that day, a holiday party.
Rondo played poorly in the Mavericks' game, committing five turnovers with two points and two assists.
Teammate Jimmy Butler said following Monday's shootaround that Rondo "has been great" during his stint with the Bulls.
"I think this is just another bump in the road," Butler said. "He's a phenomenal damn teammate and I back him on everything.
"These things happen and when things happen you handle it the way you're supposed to handle it," Butler added. "I think we all love Rondo. I know I do. He's been a great mentor to me, he's made me a much better basketball player. We've got to go out and get one (Monday night)."
It's the third straight season in which Rondo has drawn discipline. The Mavericks suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team in February 2015. The NBA suspended Rondo one game last season for using a homophobic slur at official Bill Kennedy. Rondo has been suspended by either the league or his team seven times since 2012.
Butler was asked if this latest incident further damaged Rondo's reputation around the league.
"It doesn't," Butler said. "I don't feel his reputation fits him at all. Rondo's an incredible basketball player, friend, brother to me now, to us. I think we love him here. I think the fans love him as well, the organization, I think everyone has nothing but great things to say about him. I don't see where that reputation came from at all."
Hoiberg refused to get into details about the suspension but echoed Butler's opinion on Rondo's stint with the Bulls.
"Rajon, as we've all said, has been great," Hoiberg said. "A great teammate. I've enjoyed the relationship that we developed, and ... it's not going to change moving forward."
Rondo has averaged 8.2 points, 7.2 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 1.41 steals in 30.5 minutes in 17 games this season. He is scheduled to fly with the Bulls on Monday night and face the Pistons on Tuesday, according to Hoiberg.
