Rondo is cut from Team USA.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

So much for establishing trust with Coach K. Although I expected Curry to be cut because of his injury plus Rondo's a better defender.

[cool007]

I think he was probably cut. I think you could have put pretty good money that whoever was the last cut was going to have some kind of injury, issue come up. No way a player just leaves right before the competition starts after already devoting that much time to it.

It's called saving face. Just today the article came out on how Rondo was so disappointed that he got DNP-CD the last game and was saying that he is probably getting cut and then the announcement comes that Rondo is cut and then they save their face by saying Rondo has to attend his family.

It's not like we are 5 year olds and don't understand what's going on.

[ball_dont_lie]

Whether he got cut or he opted out, either way am disappointed. I really wanted to see Rondo playing in FIBA especially w/ KD.


But oh well now Rondo can start working on that jump shot, and go USA!

[peja_the_legend]

Stupid move.Yes he can't shoot but he runs an offense like noone else on this team.He had one poor game against Lithuania and ges cut while Rose showed nothin except against Spain and gets to start.

[Mumbles]

I think he was probably cut. I think you could have put pretty good money that whoever was the last cut was going to have some kind of injury, issue come up. No way a player just leaves right before the competition starts after already devoting that much time to it.

Yup it's the standard cover story, same thing was reported when Arenas got cut. The last waive is always tough because you're cutting a great player...Colangelo and company are a classy bunch. It's no hard feelings whatsoever, everyone knows Rajon could have contributed, tough decision though. If you read the comments from USA over the years they never really come out and say we cut this player..they always put it some other type of way. It's a delicate situation and they want to preserve relationships.

[Cammo101]

Stupid move.Yes he can't shoot but he runs an offense like noone else on this team.He had one poor game against Lithuania and ges cut while Rose showed nothin except against Spain and gets to start.

Rose was always going to start. We don't need these warm up games to tell us Rose is better than Rondo, because we have the NBA for that. Durant didn't play well either early on, but he is going to mstart too.

Rose and Durant are the closest thing this team has to stars. They are going nowhere. Sadly for Rondo, he is too much like Rose only not as good.

[coldfish]

Great move. It was pretty clear that Rondo was freewheeling on the court and not really playing the style that Coach K was looking for. When you add in the lack of outside shooting, its an easy decision. USA still has a ton of ball handlers. Curry, Billups, Rose, Westbrook can all do fine as PG.

[-Illmatic-]

Stupid move.Yes he can't shoot but he runs an offense like noone else on this team.He had one poor game against Lithuania and ges cut while Rose showed nothin except against Spain and gets to start.

Yeah, Rose wasn't clutch at all against Spain.

[kyphi]

Good news for Boston.

[Genjuro]

This means the number of this season's all-stars in the team is cut to three (Durant, Billups, Rose). Compare it with other US Teams:

1992: 11 (gold)
1994: 7 (gold)
1996: 12 (gold)
2000: 7 (gold)
2002: 4 (sixth)
2004: 2 (bronze)
2006: 5 (bronze)
2008: 9 (gold)

It's a bit of trivia stuff, but it has some meaning.

[cool007]

This means the number of this season's all-stars in the team is cut to three (Durant, Billups, Rose). Compare it with other US Teams:

1992: 11 (gold)
1994: 7 (gold)
1996: 12 (gold)
2000: 7 (gold)
2002: 4 (sixth)
2004: 2 (bronze)
2006: 5 (bronze)
2008: 9 (gold)

It's a bit of trivia stuff, but it has some meaning.

Maybe this will be the first time NBA send 3 All-stars and they win GOLD for Team USA???

I think they definitely will.

[panthermark]

I thought it would be Westbrook....

Oh well....

Go USA!!!

[High0ctane21]

I'm a Bulls/Lakers fan and really dislike the Celtics, but IMO this isn't a smart move. I'm not a big Rondo fan, but whenever the ball is in his hands, I have a feeling that he is going to make the right play. He's a great passer, good defender, and just a smart player. Despite having a few good games, I would have cut either Westbrook or Gordon. (Not Granger, we need all the tall players we can get)

I wonder if Rondo really does/did have family matters he wanted to attend to. Or is it so it wouldn't look like he got cut, instead he left by his own merit.

[Tai]

I think he was probably cut. I think you could have put pretty good money that whoever was the last cut was going to have some kind of injury, issue come up. No way a player just leaves right before the competition starts after already devoting that much time to it.

It's called saving face. Just today the article came out on how Rondo was so disappointed that he got DNP-CD the last game and was saying that he is probably getting cut and then the announcement comes that Rondo is cut and then they save their face by saying Rondo has to attend his family.

It's not like we are 5 year olds and don't understand what's going on.

To be fair, Rondo did have to leave the team for a day or two to go to a family member's funeral (I wanna say his Uncle?).

Who knows, something else may have come up. I know you don't want to come off as insensitive, but either way, **** happens as they say.

[Game Show]

1992: 11 (gold)
1994: 7 (gold)
1996: 12 (gold)
2000: 7 (gold)
2002: 4 (sixth)
2004: 2 (bronze)
2006: 5 (bronze)
2008: 9 (gold)

Was there no tournament in 1998? Or did we not send a team, and if so, why?

[BarneyGumble]

Where are all the "Rondo is best PG in the NBA" homers? The best PG in the league doesn't get cut from national teams....

[Mumbles]

1992: 11 (gold)
1994: 7 (gold)
1996: 12 (gold)
2000: 7 (gold)
2002: 4 (sixth)
2004: 2 (bronze)
2006: 5 (bronze)
2008: 9 (gold)

Was there no tournament in 1998? Or did we not send a team, and if so, why?

No NBA team because of the lockout. So instead we sent a team comprised of former NCAA players who were playing in U.S minor leagues & overseas (major underdog nameless type squad). That team actually performed admirably and showed a lot of heart. Won the bronze i believe.

[mikhailjordan]

Thank god this move was made... Rondo would have been a beast defensively (his defense consists primarily of gambling for steals with his ridiculous reach, but in FIBA competition against inferior ball-handlers Rondo's lack of discipline would go unnoticed) but his inability to hit an outside shot on a team that already has question marks from the perimeter would have been a disaster...

[kobe808lak]

Where are all the "Rondo is best PG in the NBA" homers? The best PG in the league doesn't get cut from national teams....

While I don't think he is the best PG in the NBA, international (fiba) ball is not the nba so his game doesn't translate well to the international style of play. Doesn't take anything away from his level of play in the NBA.

[da.vid]

wow coach k is a moron
wtf does k even stand for? moron?