Mar 26, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Chuck Hayes (44) in the second half at TD Garden. Toronto defeated Boston 99-90.
Mar 26, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Chuck Hayes (44) in the second half at TD Garden. Toronto defeated Boston 99-90. Reuters

Rajon Rondo has long been regarded as one of the most polarizing figures in the NBA. Teammates called him mercurial. His former coach Doc Rivers had an "intense dislike" for his lead guard and nearly came to blows after Rondo had some choice words for the Ubuntu master. Now, the Boston Celtics owner is chiming in on the personality of the assists maestro.

Boston Celtics Chief Executive Officer and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck was appearing before local station WBZ-TV's "Sports Final Overtime" show to discuss the upcoming charity events of the organization and naturally the discussion veered into the territory of the team's preview coming into the season. The juicier parts came when the Celtics governor was asked on his two cents on Rondo. Adam Kauffman of Boston.com transcribed the statements of the Celtics owner.

"He's super stubborn," revealed Grousbeck. "I don't know how coachable he really is. I know if you ask [former, long-time head coach] Doc [Rivers], 'Was he the most coachable guy, or in the top half, 50 percent,' he'd say, 'No, he's in the bottom 50 percent of being coachable.' It's hard with him."

While Grousbeck was critical of the hardheadedness of Rondo, he also stressed that he wants to retain his starting point guard long term and added that his ward is a good kid who has embraced the Boston community. Even if the owner expressed his desire to keep Rondo, the damage has been done. Reports again surfaced that the soon-to-be free agent is now willing to be traded even to the Sacramento Kings and stay for a long term deal.

Danny Ainge, the Celtics general manager, brushed off those rumours and sounded exasperated from all the Rondo trade talk. The former player admitted that the impending free agency status will not erase out of the equation the probability of trading his all-star but the plan is to keep him in a green jersey for the rest of his career.

"Are you seriously asking me that again? Yes, we expect Rajon to be in Boston for the long term," Ainge said. "Does that need to be asked any more by anybody ever again?"