My speculation was right, they fought over the IT tribute video. Once a Celtic always a Celtic
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22445251/rajon-rondo-isaiah-thomas-luke-walton-all-ejected-new-orleans-pelicans-los-angeles-lakers-gameThomas said Rondo hit him in the face three times and brought up the video tribute the Celtics had planned for Thomas earlier this season, which became a source of controversy because Boston had planned it on the same day as Paul Pierce's jersey retirement ceremony.
"Whatever reason, he's an upset guy about me," Thomas said after Wednesday's game. "I don't know what it is, but it's fine. He kept bringing the tribute up when I was the one that shut the tribute down. I'm far past that. ... For me to be ejected was uncalled for."
Asked if he has had any other history with Rondo, Thomas said he didn't know.
"I mean, my team beat his team in the playoffs last year," Thomas sadi, referring to the Celtics beating the Chicago Bulls 4-2 in the first round last postseason. "Maybe that is what's wrong. I don't know. There's nothing. Nothing should've made that escalate like it did. He already had his agenda written down right when I checked into the game. It was obvious. He picked me up full court, trying to be physical.
"I don't know what was going on with him. I don't know why I got thrown out. I don't want to comment too much on it. ... It was obvious what was going on. He was being too aggressive for whatever reason, and he also hit me in the face three times. At some point, as a human, if no one is going to protect me, I got to protect myself, and that is when I spoke up and got upset. I hope the NBA figures something out with that, because it was wrong for me to be ejected."
Rondo, who did not talk to the media after the game, questioned last month why the Celtics were going to give Thomas a video tribute on the same night as Pierce's jersey ceremony. Rondo played in Boston for eight-plus seasons, winning an NBA title in 2008, and was traded shortly before Thomas was acquired in a trade later in the 2014-15 season. Thomas played three seasons for the Celtics before he was traded to Cleveland before this season.
"What has he done?" Rondo said to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette in January. When told that Thomas led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals last season, Rondo said, "Oh, that's what we celebrate around here?"
"This is the Boston Celtics," Rondo said. "This isn't the Phoenix Suns. No disrespect to any other organization, but you don't hang conference titles. Do we hang going to the conference finals? What do we hang here?"
The two point guards got tangled up twice Wednesday, and officials had to separate them the second time. The two exchanged words, and Rondo got heated when the pair were ejected with 33.3 seconds left.
Thomas said he was surprised by Rondo's comments last month about the video tribute.
"I think a lot of people were [surprised]," Thomas said. "I think the world made it bigger than what it was. Everybody who's been on a team for a while has gotten a video tribute. Patrick Beverley got one in Houston. Chris Paul got one with the Clippers. It's like, they didn't win no championship but it's just the respect thing.
"[Rondo] said what he said, I laughed it off," Thomas continued. "It was what it was. I'm the one that stopped the video tribute from happening because I wanted Paul Pierce to have his full night. I didn't want to take nothing from him. I know he played on Paul Pierce's team. He's gonna always have Paul Pierce's back, which is fine. I didn't lose sleep over it. It was obvious [that it] continued to be brought up with what happened tonight."