Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is among those to voice their support for NBA referee Bill Kennedy, who revealed Monday that he's gay in the wake of the league's suspension of Kings guard Rajon Rondo for directing homophobic slurs toward Kennedy after a Dec. 3 ejection.
When asked about Rondo's comments Monday, Popovich told reporters he wasn't surprised by the source.
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“Why would I be surprised?” Popovich said, via the Washington Post. “You see it all the time. It’s unfortunate. It’s disgusting, because Billy is a great guy, and has been a class act on and off the court.
“As far as anybody’s sexual orientation, it’s nobody’s business. It just shows ignorance to act in a derogatory way toward anybody in the LGBT community. It doesn’t make sense. But surprised, of course not.”
Rondo was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Dec. 11 for "directing a derogatory and offensive term towards a game official" during a game against the Celtics a week earlier. After he was ejected from the game, Rondo confronted Kennedy from the sidelines and, according to Yahoo Sports, allegedly shouted, “You’re a motherf—ing f—” and, “You’re a f—t, Billy.”
Rondo issued a statement via his Twitter account Monday, writing, “My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!
“They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone."
Kennedy, in his 18th season with the NBA, told Yahoo Sports he decided to come out to "send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are."
