The brother of veteran guard Rajon Rondo, who is allowed to attend games at the NBA “bubble” as a family member, was ejected from Saturday’s playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets after a verbal spat with All-Star Russell Westbrook.
With the Lakers up big in the fourth quarter on their way to a series-clinching win in Game 5, William Rondo allegedly called Westbrook “trash” and waved goodbye when Westbrook asked what was said.
“He didn’t do anything crazy,” Rajon Rondo said. “He called the man ‘trash.’ Fans do what fans do. He’s my brother first. He didn’t do anything disrespectful.” William is actually in charge of the barbers, manicurists, and hair braiders at the bubble, who work through his company.
Security asked Rajon Rondo’s brother to leave the stands after he exchanged words with Russell Westbrook. pic.twitter.com/5jG1hkInN6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 13, 2020
When asked postgame, here’s how Westbrook described the incident:
People at the game, you’re supposed to shut your mouth and watch the game. That’s the rules, especially when you have families and people here. Apparently, I guess because [Rajon] Rondo was talking s—, [William] decided he wanted to hop in, too.
But it’s okay. I mean, it’s all good, I get it. He wanted to take up for his brother. … But those rules stand for everybody, though, no matter who it is — family, whatever.
"I guess 'cause Rondo was talking s—, he decided he wanted to hop in too."
—Russell Westbrook on his mid-game altercation with Rajon Rondo's brother pic.twitter.com/zp6LPloo6e
— ESPN (@espn) September 13, 2020
For Westbrook and the Rockets, the 2019-20 season is now over. The Lakers will resume play later this week in the Western Conference Finals, and Rondo told reporters that he was hopeful that his brother would not be further disciplined over the incident.
Westbrook struggled in the game, scoring 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting (30.8%) from the field and 2-of-6 (33.3%) on free throws.
Lakers guard Rajon Rondo says his brother, William, called Russell Westbrook “trash” and nothing more and gave him the “Damian Lillard” wave when the Rockets star asked what he said. Rondo said his bother didn’t say anything more and he is hopeful there will be no discipline.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 13, 2020
