The fight at the center of a $1M lawsuit against Atlanta Hawks star Rajon Rondo was captured on video. In the newly released clip shared by TMZ, Rondo can be seen nudging the woman who is suing him before his girlfriend swoops in with a flurry of punches.
Royce. She is suing both Rondo and his girlfriend for unspecified damages in excess of $1 million. Jorshari is claiming that she suffered injuries in the scuffle and is suing the pair for assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy.
In the video, Jorshari and the couple can be seen exchanging words. When Jorshari moves toward Rondo’s girlfriend, the NBA player steps in between and shoves Jorshari away. He then holds back his girlfriend briefly before letting her loose to throw punches. Jorshari’s lawyers released a too cute by half statement about the suit.
“In the NBA, unnecessary and excessive contact is considered a Flagrant 2 foul, which can result in a fine, ejection and possible suspension of a player,” attorneys Eddie Tehrani & Arnold Gross said. “Outside the NBA such conduct is considered an assault and battery. No man should ever put their hands on a woman, ESPECIALLY an NBA basketball player with superior height, and strength. The video speaks for itself.”
Rondo’s representation said that his client did nothing wrong in stepping between the pair.
“The plaintiff chose to park her car two inches from Mr. Rondo’s door, and the plaintiff was not in an assigned parking spot. The plaintiff refused to wear a mask during a short 30 second encounter, and also refused to move her car.” lawyer Mark Baute told TMZ. “The plaintiff and Mr. Rondo’s girlfriend had an unpleasant encounter that lasted roughly 10 seconds, and Mr. Rondo tried to prevent them from any further interaction, which was awkward due to (a) his thumb being broken, and (b) the plaintiff not wearing a mask.”
Baute added that they plan to fight the case rather than settle and believe the case will be ruled in their favor.
The veteran played a big role in helping the Lakers secure the 2020 championship. He averaged 8.9 points, 6.6 assists 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals during the Lakers’ postseason run.
While Rondo didn’t start in any of the Lakers’ games, he helped man the team’s second unit.
However, Rondo will have to find a way to quickly put this drama behind him.
Now, the journeyman is looking to mentor and guide Hawks rising star Trae Young. The Hawks have missed the playoffs by far in Young’s first two seasons in the league.