Rush Staged Short Walkout

The sometimes-emotional fragile state of JaRon Rush became an immediate issue for the Bruins to handle at the start of the new season when, apparently frustrated at being benched, he walked out during Coach Steve Lavin’s postgame talk after last week’s exhibition game.

Rush might not have played anyway against the Lithuanian club team Wednesday because of an elbow injury, but he was scratched for certain after missing the mandatory pregame meal. When Lavin spoke to the team after the 90-66 victory and stressed the importance of team rules and unity, Rush, apparently feeling singled out, left the locker room.

“He was emotional about not getting to play,” Lavin said. “But the next day, as calmer heads prevailed, he realized that he’s got to be held accountable.

“I was pleased with the way he responded the next day. . . . One thing about him, he doesn’t sulk, he doesn’t pout, he doesn’t mope. He always comes back strong.”

That Rush apologized to the team the next day and was on time to practice Thursday and Friday convinced Lavin the matter was closed. That became one reason Rush was not further disciplined for walking out on his coach.

“We were pretty much done anyway,” Lavin said.

Rush was not available for comment because he had returned home to Kansas City, Mo., to attend to personal business--a trip that had been planned before the locker room incident and came as an excused absence. He is scheduled to be back in Los Angeles today, but it is not known if he will play in the Bruins’ second and final exhibition game, against the California All-Stars at 7:30 tonight at Pauley Pavilion.

Rush told Lavin he missed the pregame meal because he was stuck in traffic after getting a haircut.

Rush was the starting small forward last season as he faced several emotional struggles, most notably the seemingly constant tug of transferring to attend a school closer to home. But he led the Bruins in rebounding and finished tied for eighth in the conference, even as a freshman.