Jason Collins Calls Foul on Rajon Rondo's Gay Slur
Rajon Rondo apologized for using a gay slur against NBA referee Bill Kennedy, but that doesn't let him off the hook.
Well before the longtime NBA ref revealed that he's gay on Sunday night, Jason Collins became the first NBA player to announce that he's publicly gay in April 2013.
TMZ Sports caught up with Collins, who now works for the NBA, and the former center called foul play on Rondo's gay slur.
"I think there's no defense for using that kind of language," Collins said.
Although being an employee of the NBA kept him from speaking out further, Collins said the league should, "continue communication, dialog, education" on the subject.
Rondo reportedly called Kennedy a "f****t" during the Sacramento Kings-Boston Celtics game on December 3. On Friday, two days before Kennedy revealed he's gay to Yahoo Sports, the NBA suspended Rondo for one game.
"My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!" Rondo told TMZ Sports on Monday. "They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone."
The Kings' star point guard served his one-game suspension on Tuesday night during a Kings victory over the Houston Rockets and will be allowed to return to the team's lineup in Friday night's road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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(Photos from left: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
