Rajon Rondo, Stephen Jackson talk NBA lockout and playing abroad
Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo and Milwaukee Bucks player Stephen Jackson were at a charity event recently and took time out to talk to reporters about the ongoing NBA labour dispute. The league is in lockout as a result of NBA
owners and players disagreeing over terms of a new CBA and with more and more time passing, the threat of a lost NBA season is becoming very real.
Rondo is one of the premier point guards in the NBA and a cornerstone of the Celtics franchise, where he is viewed as a key player in building the team after the Big Three era. With a number of NBA players heading overseas in
order to play competitive basketball and make some cash until the lockout ends, it was inevitable that Rondo would be asked about his plans in this regard.
The Boston point guard though was non-committal, saying he was concentrating at the present and would see what the situation is regarding an overseas move when the time comes,
"It just depends," Rondo said. "My agent and I will sit down and we'll talk about it and discuss what's best for me."
"I'm just trying to focus on getting better, and ready for next season,"
The situation is particularly frustrating for Stephen Jackson as he just signed for the Bucks in the summer. Jackson, an 11 year veteran of the league was a free agent after last season and decided to join Milwaukee for the coming
one. However his settling in period at the Bucks has been severely hampered due to the NBA lockout.
Jackson cannot train with the Bucks coaches, he cannot use their facilities and he cannot even talk with the management. The player revealed that he was frustrated at the situation and would definitely consider moving abroad. Jackson
set an October 1 deadline for his decision. If he sees an improvement in the labour talks by then he could stay in the USA.
If that is not the case, Jackson has plenty of suitors abroad. He has reportedly been talking to French teams in this regard already. The guard revealed that his main purpose for making a move would not be money; he just needs
to stay in shape.
"I don't have money problems. I'm good," Jackson said. "I will go to play overseas just to stay in shape, so when we do start, I'm ahead of guys, not behind. I'm going to wait until the season is officially not going to start before
I make any decision."
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