Trouble in the Windy City

Photo: Courtesy of the Associated Press

Dwyane Wade signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls this past July for 2-years and $47-Million, shortly after Rajon Rondo, who led the NBA in assists last year, signed a 2-year deal worth close to $28 Million. They joined Jimmy Butler, the young All-star; creating what many felt would be a formidable three-some to make a run in the mediocre Eastern Conference save for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

However, after the Bulls squandered a late 4th-quarter lead to the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night and allowed 41 points in the final frame, Dwyane Wade had some harsh words for his teammates, challenging their desire and effort saying, “They don’t care enough.” Wade further questioned his teammates not named Butler by saying, “I can look at Jimmy and say Jimmy’s doing his job. Jimmy can look at me and say Dwyane’s doing his job. I don’t know if we can keep going down the line and be able to say that.”

Butler chimed in with similar sentiments to Wade. Rondo took exception, posting a reply on Instagram:

My vets would never go to the media. They would come to the team. My vets didn’t pick and choose when they wanted to bring it. They brought it every time they stepped in the gym whether it was practice or a game. They didn’t take days off. My vets didn’t care about their numbers. My vets played for the team. When we lost, they wouldn’t blame us. They took responsibility and got in the gym. They showed the young guys what it meant to work. Even in Boston when we had the best record in the league, if we lost a game, you could hear a pin drop on the bus. They showed us the seriousness of the game. My vets didn’t have an influence on the coaching staff. They couldn’t change the plan because it didn’t work for them. I played under one of the greatest coaches, and he held everyone accountable. It takes 1-15 to win. When you isolate everyone, you can’t win consistently. I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a bad teammate. My goal is to pass what I learned along. The young guys work. They show up. They don’t deserve blame. If anything is questionable, it’s the leadership.

A photo posted by Rajon Rondo (@rajonrondo) on Jan 26, 2021 at 3:03pm PST

Clearly, Wade and Butler are not his Vet’s. It will be interesting to see how the Bull’s come out in the game tonight against Wade’s old team, the Miami Heat.