Rondo issues second apology for slurs directed at referee

Sensing his initial apology may have left something to be desired, Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo doubled down on Tuesday.

Rondo issued a statement via his Twitter account on Monday after making a “derogatory and offensive term towards a game official” during the Kings’ 114-97 loss against the Boston Celtics on December 3.

NBA referee Bill Kennedy came out as gay 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”.

And Rondo, who was suspended for one game without pay, issued a second, more in depth public apology 24 hours later.

“Yesterday, I said that my words toward Bill Kennedy were unacceptable and did not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. Some have interpreted my comments as a non-apology,” Rondo wrote in a statement released by the Kings.

“I want to be clear, from the bottom of my heart that I am truly sorry for what I said to Bill.

“There is no place on or off the court for language that disrespects anyone’s sexual orientation. That is not who I am or what I believe and I will strive every day to be a better person.”