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Report: Lakers' Rondo won't be fined for sitting in courtside seats

Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / Getty

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo will not be fined or disciplined for sitting in a courtside seat during Wednesday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Rondo told McMenamin that he had a meeting with both Lakers president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka on Thursday to discuss the optics of the incident.

"They notified me that it was a league rule that you can't sit there," Rondo said. "I wasn't aware of it. But now I know going forward where I need to be."

In the final moments of the defeat, Rondo was seen sitting among fans in the courtside seats at the Staples Center, separated entirely from his teammates and staff on the Lakers' bench.

The 33-year-old downplayed the incident to reporters postgame, admitting he's sat in courtside seats about "eight, 10 times this year," according to McMenamin.

Teammate LeBron James overtook Michael Jordan for fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Wednesday, but Rondo's seating choice diverted some of the attention after the contest. In an Instagram post on Thursday, Rondo criticized those who shifted their focus away from James' historic milestone.

View this post on Instagram

Let me help y’all out. Since everyone wants to over analyze, gaslight, and over interpret situations, let me help y’all with your due diligence. The real story that everyone should be talking about right now is how my teammate, Lebron James, accomplished a huge milestone in last night’s game. What he has accomplished in this game shows where hard work, dedication, and perseverance can take you. It shows little kids that don’t come from privilege that success is attainable. It shows that no one can tell you how great you can be. Y’all are so busy analyzing what happened in the last 48 seconds of the game that y’all missed the opportunity to highlight, congratulate, and praise Lebron wholeheartedly on his accomplishment. Most of y’all have made a career out of discussing Lebron James, and y’all can’t pay the man some respect. Since y’all missed it, let me do it publicly. Congratulations Lebron on EVERYTHING. You deserve all the success and happiness that God and the Universe has to offer. Congratulations My Brother. Keep being great! 👊🏾👊🏾

A post shared by Rajon Rondo (@rajonrondo) on

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