NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explained the league's decision over the Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo's levying of a one-game suspension for directing a gay slur at a referee, saying that a harsher punishment could have possibly "outed" Kennedy.

"I was of the view that by making (the suspension) two games or three games, it would have been clear something else is going on here and not just what was apparent on TV," Silver told Yahoo Sports in a podcast released on Wednesday.

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"In the back of my mind, I was concerned. It did not seem appropriated to me that I should --- because of a bad act by Rajon Rondo --- out (referee) Bill Kennedy," USA Today further quoted Silver.

The Sacramento Kings guard was highly criticized and condemned for not speaking to reporters or issuing an apology after the latter disclosed that he is gay following Rondo's suspension for directing a gay slur at Kennedy during a game.

Instead, the four-time NBA All-Star sent out a couple of short messages using his Twitter account stating that his actions toward Kennedy during the game on Dec. 3 were out of frustration and not meant to offend or disrespect anyone.

The untoward incident occurred during the third quarter of the Kings' Dec. 3 114-97 loss to the Boston Celtics in Mexico City. The veteran referee ejected Rondo with consecutives technical fouls; Rondo disobeyed NBA protocol to immediately leave the court and instead walked toward Kennedy and hurled words at him.

Kennedy told Yahoo Sports he is gay.

Rondo is the third NBA Player to be disciplined for the use of anti-gay slurs, but will the first one to be suspended. Joakim Noah of Chichago Bulls was fined $50,000 for making a slur toward a fan, and Kobe Bryant of LA Lakers was fined $100,000 for the same offense but with a referee. Both players apologized for the comment.

According to theScore report, Rondo returns from his suspension Friday night, when the Kings visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Tagssacramento kings, Sacramento Basketball, Rajon Rondo, Gay Slur, Adam Silver, Bill Kennedy, NBA news, NBA 2015, LGTB