Post#213 » by Ruhiel » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:48 pm
There was some concern by the Celtics that Rivers might choose to leave the team to spend more time with his family. But shortly after the season, he agreed to a five-year, $35 million extension.
“Doc’s proven with the players that we have that he will have a winning record,” Rondo said. “But most of all, he’s never going to settle. We always want to win a championship. That’s the only goal we have as a team and that’s his mindset.
“When you talk to him, he believes we have the talent and the ability to win a championship. That’s our standard. He holds us accountable.”
Rondo isn’t considering playing overseas now, but his agent, Bill Duffy, said he’ll revisit the option if it becomes clear the NBA season could be lost. Rondo is slated to make $10.4 million next season on a contract that lasts through the 2014-15 season.
Rondo said he has been talking to Pierce, Garnett and Allen regularly, and they are all worried about a potential long lockout.
The age of the returning Celtics also could become an issue. Allen just turned 36, Garnett is 35, and Pierce and Jermaine O’Neal will be 34 and 33, respectively, before next season starts. While health will always be a concern with an older team, a lockout-shortened season could actually benefit Boston.
Rondo, 25, isn’t worried.
“They said we were done two years ago,” Rondo said. “We could care less about that. We could care less about people saying we are done.”