Rajon Rondo -- Apologizes for Gay Slurs ... I'm No Homophobe

Sacramento Kings star Rajon Rondo swears he's no homophobe -- despite the fact he hurled gay slurs at a gay NBA ref -- saying the whole thing was out of frustration... not out of gay hatred.

Rondo was suspended earlier this week after he cussed out NBA referee Bill Kennedy on Dec. 3rd -- calling him a "motherf**king f**got" while storming off the court.

Kennedy has since come out as a gay man -- leading to a closer inspection into Rondo's verbal attack.

But Rondo insists he's not anti-gay -- saying, "My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!"

"They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone."

Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé has also weighed in -- saying, "Rajon's comment is not reflective of the culture of the Sacramento Kings organization or the world we want to live in."