The Celtics are trying to downplay the situation, but Rajon Rondo did not attend the Celtics game on Saturday in Sacramento vs the Kings. The reason that he did not go according to people in the organization is he wanted to stay in LA for his birthday party:
While some were displeased by the move, for which Rondo did not receive official permission, others pointed out he was not scheduled to play in the game anyway (on the second night of a back-to-back), and that he may have simply been making some assumptions based on precedent. Multiple sources say he remained in LA for a birthday celebration. He turned 28 on Saturday.
Danny Ainge says they will handle this internally and Rondo doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. It usually raises some eyebrows when the face of your franchise and team captain doesn’t travel with the team. Even if it was the second game of a back to back and he wasn’t going to play, he probably should have travelled with the team.
Maybe it was just a misunderstanding.