It’s not often ex-Boston Celtic Rajon Rondo loses out on an opportunity to shine on the biggest of stages because of a missed connection.
But that’s exactly what happened to the franchise’s former floor general with his opportunity to cameo in the film “Uncut Gems”, which features former teammate Kevin Garnett alongside actor Adam Sandler.
The film follows Sandler’s character as a gambling-obsessed jeweler to the stars as he tries to sell Garnett (playing himself) a black opal during Boston’s 2012 playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Rondo would presumably have also played himself, but missed his 6:00 am flight, reports the Athletic’s Bill Oram.
“First big role, too,” said the Kentucky product. “I missed the flight and I was like, ‘[Expletive], I don’t want to take a private [jet], about $95,000.’ … [messed] up my debut.”
The film was never really supposed to be about the Celtics in the first place, with the Safdie brothers, the directors, being staunch New York Knicks fans.
But Amar’e Stoudemire didn’t work out, nor did his replacement, Kobe Bryant, for various reasons at the time, forcing the film’s reorientation towards Boston.
In fact, it was only the Big Ticket’s enthusiastic embrace of the role that shifted the focus to Boston, the film originally written for the New York and Los Angeles franchises before linking up with Garnett.
Now ensconced playing for his former rival Los Angeles Lakers, just around the corner from many a studio in Hollywood, Rondo should have an easier time getting to future shootings should he want to continue dabbling in film.
Then again, the Louisville native was never much of a shooter to begin with with, pun intended.
