Respect runs deep between Kings guard Rajon Rondo and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. It just does so in a bizarre and beautiful way.
After the Kings defeated the Lakers by the final of 106-98 on Tuesday, Rondo spoke with reporters and commented on the close nature of his friendship with The Black Mamba. “I don’t have a lot of friends,” Rondo said per Baxter Holmes of ESPN. “I’m just friends with a lot of a–holes.”
Rondo and Kobe grew close. Why? Rondo: "I don’t have a lot of friends. I’m just friends with a lot of a–holes."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) March 16, 2016
The two have shared a long history, their fierce battles in the NBA Finals eventually giving way to a sense of mutual admiration as competitors. Bryant was said to be disappointed when the Lakers failed to sign Rondo in free agency last summer.
This definitely isn’t the first time Bryant and Rondo have used the “a–hole” metaphor to lovingly sum up their friendship either, having exchanged the following compliments back in 2014 (per SB Nation):
Kobe on how Rondo will survive the rebuild: "From what I understand he's an asshole like me, so he'll manage."
— Paul Flannery (@Pflanns) January 17, 2014
Rondo, on being called an asshole by Kobe: "That's a great compliment, coming from Kobe. I feel the same way about him."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) January 18, 2014
Bryant and Rondo also caused a social media firestorm later that year by having breakfast together, a meeting the latter famously dubbed “just two a–holes having breakfast.”
Upon Bryant’s retirement at the end of the season, the NBA will surely miss its most weirdly wonderful friendship. But at least the two have combined to forever form the world’s most exclusive fraternity: The A–Hole Association.
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
H/T FOX Sports
