KG, Rondo Leave Court Before Game Ends Without Shaking Hands With Heat
BOSTON (CBS) -- There was a touching moment in Miami late Saturday night, when Celtics head coach Doc Rivers took his starters out of the game for the last time of the season. Kevin Garnett shared an embrace and a brief discussion with Rivers, and it sounded like the Miami crowd was acknowledging the end of the "Big Three" era with loud applause.
Just seconds later though, the story line changed, as ESPN cameras showed Garnett and Rajon Rondo heading to the locker room with time still on the game clock.
Immediately on Twitter, the story changed from the "end of an era" comments to criticisms of the two players for what was perceived as a lack of sportsmanship.
Right or wrong, KG's and Rondo's early exit was not unprecedented. Just two years ago, when the Celtics eliminated LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Boston, the then-Cavs star walked off the court without shaking the hands of any Celtics players, and he left the TD Garden without speaking to the media.
Days later, James apologized for not speaking to the media but said he had no regrets for his decision to not shake hands with the Celtics.
"As far as shaking hands, it's something that is not done in the NBA," James told reporters in 2010, before he made his "decision" to go to the Heat. "If it was something like tennis, after tennis, you play, you win, you lose, you go to the center and shake hands, it happens every game in tennis. ... I will not apologize for shaking nobody's hand. You never accept losing, ever."
Rondo spoke after Saturday night's game but was not asked about leaving the court early. Garnett did not speak with reporters after the loss.
