Rajon Rondo

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Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo, Kelly Oubre Jr. (38294689275) (cropped).jpg
Rondo with New Orleans in 2017
No. 9 � Los Angeles Lakers
Position Point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born February 22, 1986 (age 33)
Louisville, Kentucky
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight 186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school Eastern (Middletown, Kentucky)
Oak Hill Academy
(Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
College Kentucky (2004�2006)
NBA draft 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career 2006�present
Career history
2006�2014 Boston Celtics
2014�2015 Dallas Mavericks
2015�2016 Sacramento Kings
2016�2017 Chicago Bulls
2017�2018 New Orleans Pelicans
2018�present Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2008)
4� NBA All-Star (2010�2013)
All-NBA Third Team (2012)
2� NBA All-Defensive First Team (2010, 2011)
2� NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2009, 2012)
3� NBA assists leader (2012, 2013, 2016)
NBA steals leader (2010)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2007)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Rajon Pierre Rondo (born February 22, 1986) is an American professional basketball
player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Rondo played two years of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before he
was drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft. He was
subsequently traded to the Celtics, where he played a supporting role during his
rookie season. Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, had led the league in assists per
game three times (2012, 2013, and 2016). He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in
2011�12 and has earned four NBA All-Defensive Team honors, twice on the First Team
(2009�10 and 2010�11). During his time in Boston, Rondo helped the Celtics advance
to the NBA Finals in 2008 and 2010, winning a championship in 2008 as the team's
starting point guard. Rondo has long been known as an elite facilitator in the NBA,
ranking fourth in Celtics history in assists and third in steals. He is also
considered a stat-sheet stuffer,[1] ranking 11th in NBA history for triple-doubles
with 32 in the regular season,[2] to go with 10 in the playoffs.[3][4]

After 8� seasons with the Celtics, Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in
December 2014. A tumultuous five-month stint ensued, and in 2015, Rondo joined the
Sacramento Kings. In 2016, he joined the Chicago Bulls, before joining the New
Orleans Pelicans in 2017 and the Lakers in 2018.

Contents
1 Early life
2 High school career
3 College career
4 Professional career
4.1 Boston Celtics (2006�2014)
4.1.1 2006 NBA draft
4.1.2 Rookie season
4.1.3 2007�08 season
4.1.4 2008�09 season
4.1.5 2009�10 season
4.1.6 2010�11 season
4.1.7 2011�12 season
4.1.8 2012�13 season
4.1.9 2013�14 season
4.1.10 2014�15 season
4.2 Dallas Mavericks (2014�2015)
4.3 Sacramento Kings (2015�2016)
4.4 Chicago Bulls (2016�2017)
4.5 New Orleans Pelicans (2017�2018)
4.6 Los Angeles Lakers (2018�present)
5 Career statistics
5.1 NBA
5.1.1 Regular season
5.1.2 Playoffs
5.2 College
6 Awards and honors
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
Early life
Rondo was born on February 22, 1986 in Louisville, Kentucky, to Amber Rondo.[5] He
has three siblings: Dymon, William and Anton.[6] He had little contact with his
father, who left his family when he was seven years old.[6] To support the family,
his mother worked the third shift at Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company.[6] Rondo
was first interested in football, before his mother steered him towards basketball
because she felt that the sport would be less punishing on his skinny frame.[6]

High school career

After Rondo became serious about basketball, he attended Louisville's Eastern High
School for three years. During his junior year at Eastern High School, he averaged
27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists which earned him a spot on the All-State
honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year. He transferred to
Virginia's Oak Hill Academy for his senior year where he averaged 21.0 points per
game (ppg), 3.0 rebounds per game (rpg) and 12.0 assists per game (apg) and
finished the 2003�04 season with a 38�0 record.[7] In his senior year at Oak Hill
Academy, Rondo broke Jeff McInnis's single-season school record of 303 assists,
while averaging a double-double. There, he included two efforts of 27 assists and a
single-game school record of 31, merely four away from the all-time national
record.[7] He also had a 55-point game in high-school, second highest all-time in
Oak Hill Academy, surpassed only by Calvin Duncan with 61.[8] Rondo was named to
the McDonald's All-American Team in 2004 and scored a total of 14 points, 4 assists
and 4 rebounds in the all-star game.[9] He also participated in the 2004 Jordan
Capital Classic game, logging 12 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.[10] Rondo was also
named a second-team Parade All-American. He ended his career as Oak Hill Academy's
all-time assists leader in a single season with 494 assists, surpassing McInnis.
[11]

College career
Rondo committed to Kentucky over hometown Louisville.[12] Rondo, along with All-
Americans Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris, gave coach Tubby Smith and Kentucky the
top-rated recruiting class for 2004 according to Rivals.com.[13] Rondo led Kentucky
to several wins including victories against the Louisville, South Carolina and
Central Florida, but Kentucky failed to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA
Tournament in either Rondo's freshman or sophomore seasons. He was named to the SEC
All-Freshmen Team.[14] He set a Kentucky record for most steals in single-season,
with a total of 87 steals in his freshman year and made at least one steal in every
game.[15] He finished his freshman year at Kentucky averaging 8.1 points, 2.9
rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals.[16]

In his sophomore year he had a career-high 12 assists against Ole Miss, despite
playing just 23 minutes, and 25 points against Louisville.[17] Rondo also set
another Kentucky Wildcats record for most rebounds in a game by a guard, with 19
rebounds in an early season loss to Iowa.[18] He was not known for being a shooter,
however, going 18�66 from three with a 57.1% FT average. He averaged 11.2 points,
6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in his sophomore year.[16] Rondo
was also named to the 2005 USA Men's Under-21 World Championship Team, which
traveled to Argentina for the FIBA World Championships.[19] He averaged 11.0 ppg
and 4.5 apg in the eight-game tournament, garnering much attention from NBA scouts.
The USA U-21 team won a gold medal at the Global Games held in Texas in late July.

Professional career
Boston Celtics (2006�2014)
2006 NBA draft
Following the 2005�06 NCAA season, Rondo announced he would forgo his final two
seasons at Kentucky and enter the NBA draft.[20] Rondo was drafted 21st overall by
the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft. Phoenix then traded him to the Boston
Celtics along with Brian Grant for the Cleveland Cavaliers' first-round draft pick
in the 2007 NBA draft and cash considerations.[21] He was the first point guard to
be chosen in the draft.[22] In another draft-day deal, the Celtics acquired
Sebastian Telfair from the Portland Trail Blazers, finally uniting the backcourt
Rick Pitino had envisioned at Louisville.[23] He was signed by the Boston Celtics
on July 4, 2006.[24]

Rookie season
During his rookie season in the NBA, Rondo played a supporting role and would split
time with Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West. Rondo only started in 25 games that
season due to his initial backup role to Telfair. He made his NBA regular season
debut on November 1, 2006, in a home loss against the New Orleans Hornets.[25] In
his rookie season, he lacked on his jump shot which resulted in him slashing to the
basket for a teardrop or layup. While coming off the bench, he managed to score a
career-high 23 points against the Toronto Raptors,[5] and record his first career
double-double in a road losing effort against the Washington Wizards.[26] In his
first career start, he matched his career-high against the Los Angeles Clippers,
though the line-ups were constantly being shuffled between Telfair and Rondo at the
point guard.[5] After officially becoming a starter, he began to receive more
playing time (career-high 47 minutes of playing time)[5] and show improvement
(career-high 14 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs,[27] and a career-high 7
steals against the Indiana Pacers).[5] As the mid-season approached, his numbers
began to increase,[28] which earned him an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection.
[29] He finished the season with an average of 6.4 ppg and 3.8 apg,[30] ranking in
the top ten in the NBA in steals (128)[31] and also ranking in the top ten among
rookies in several other categories, including first in steals, second in assists
and sixth in minutes.[28] In the end, however, the Celtics finished the season with
a 24�58 win-loss record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
2007�08 season

Rondo in May 2008

After Telfair and West were traded during the offseason of the 2007�08 season,
Rondo secured a spot in the starting lineup, starting in every game. Surrounded by
All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, he quickly became a steady,
consistent player.[32] In his 77 games played, he averaged 10.6 points per game
(ppg), 5.1 assists per game (apg) and 4.2 rebounds per game (rpg).[30] His role as
a playmaker reflected in him leading the team in assists and steals. In a game
against the New Jersey Nets, Rondo suffered a lower back injury late in the third
quarter, forcing him to miss the next four games.[33] He made his successful return
from injury and to the starting lineup in a road win against the New York Knicks.
[34] A week later, he matched his career-high against the Miami Heat,[35] and then
scored a career-high 24 points in a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers the
following month.[36] During the All-Star break, he was selected to play on the
Sophomore Team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam.[37] Following the
All-Star weekend, Rondo recorded a career-high 16 assists in a home victory against
the Charlotte Bobcats.[38] Despite his solid rookie year, there was much
speculation about Boston needing a veteran point guard.[39] In March, they signed
veteran point guard Sam Cassell as a free agent to serve as a backup.[39] The
Celtics' best single-season improvement in NBA history earned them the number one
seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Following the regular season, Rondo finished in the top five for the NBA Most
Improved Player voting.[40] Rondo made his playoff debut on April 20, 2008 against
the Atlanta Hawks and finished the game with 15 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. The
Celtics closed out the series in seven games, went on to defeat Cleveland in the
next round, and then beat the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA
Finals, facing the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo recorded two strong performances,
including a career-high 16 assists in Game 2. In Game 3, however, Rondo left the
court in the third quarter after rolling his ankle.[41] The ankle injury was
considered a "non-factor," and Rondo eventually made his return in Game 4.[42] In
Game 6, the point guard posted a playoffs career-high 6 steals as the Celtics
defeated the Lakers 4�2, giving Rondo his first NBA championship ring. After the
game Lakers head coach Phil Jackson called Rondo the "star" of Game 6.[39]

2008�09 season

Rondo in December 2008

In his third NBA campaign, the Celtics began the season with the best starting
record in NBA history and also set a franchise record with a nineteen-game winning
streak.[43] Rondo's numbers increased from his previous season performance;
however, he was criticized for his shooting.[44] He recorded his first career
triple-double along with a career-high in assists (16 points, 13 rebounds and 17
assists), against the Indiana Pacers.[45] In a home win against the New York
Knicks, Rondo led the team to tie a franchise record with 18 straight wins.[46]
However, after the winning streak was snapped the team struggled, losing seven out
of nine games after ending the streak.[47] Rondo�matched up with one of the
league's quicker guards, Tony Parker�recorded 16 assists in a losing effort against
the Spurs, one short of his season-high.[48] Less than a week later against the
Mavericks, he recorded his second career triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds and
14 assists),[49] and then recorded a career-high 32 points against the Phoenix Suns
on his 23rd birthday.[50] He became the first NBA athlete to sign an endorsement
contract with Red Bull on April 17, 2009.[51] He finished the season ranking fifth
in the NBA in assists (8.2) and steals (1.9).[52] The team finished the season as
the second seed in the Eastern Conference, although they entered the playoffs
without their injured All-Star power forward Kevin Garnett.
In the playoffs match-up against the Chicago Bulls, despite putting up a playoff
career-high 29 points in Game 1, the Celtics lost in overtime.[53] Boston won the
next two games and in Games 2 and 4, Rondo recorded triple-doubles[54] and became
the first Celtic player with two triple-doubles in the same series since Larry Bird
in 1986. He also became the first player with multiple triple-doubles in the same
playoff series since Jason Kidd had three triple-doubles in the 2002 Eastern
Conference Finals.[55] In Game 6, he recorded a career-high 19 assists without a
turnover, tying an NBA playoffs record.[56] In the next round against the Orlando
Magic, the Celtics lost the first game before Rondo's triple-double performance in
Game 2 helped secure a home win. His third triple-double of the postseason tied
Larry Bird's franchise record and also became the first to do that since Jason Kidd
had four.[57] However, the Celtics were defeated in seven games in the Eastern
Conference Semifinals.[58] During the postseason, Rondo nearly averaged a triple
double with 16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists.[59]

2009�10 season
During the 2009�10 season, Rondo averaged career highs in points (13.7), assists
(9.8) and steals (2.3) and became the first Celtic to lead the league in steals.
[60] On November 2, 2009, Rondo signed a five-year extension with the Celtics worth
a guaranteed $55 million.[61] In a road victory against the Orlando Magic on
Christmas day, Rondo recorded 17 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists, two assists shy
of a triple double.[62] Three days later, Rondo scored 30 points along to go with
15 assists in a road loss to the Golden State Warriors.[63] On January 10, 2010,
Rondo recorded his third regular-season career triple-double, with 22 points, 13
assists and 10 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors.[64] On January 28, 2010, he
received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve on the Eastern Conference
squad for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.[65] He also competed in the 2010 H-O-R-S-E
contest but lost in the finals to Kevin Durant.[66] Rondo recorded his fourth
regular-season career triple-double against the Denver Nuggets on March 24, 2010,
with 11 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds.[67] Two days later against the
Sacramento Kings, Rondo entered the game tied with Rick Fox for a franchise record
of most steals in a single-season (167), eventually establishing the record with a
second-quarter steal from Sean May.[68] In a game against the Houston Rockets on
April 2, 2010, he broke Bob Cousy's franchise record for most assists in a single-
season.[69]

In the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in five games and
faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. In Game 2, Rondo dished out 19
assists tying his career-high and also tying a franchise record for most assists in
a playoff game.[70] In Game 4, he recorded his fourth postseason triple-double
along with a playoff career-high 29 points and 18 rebounds.[71] He joined Wilt
Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only other player in NBA history to have 29
points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in a playoff game.[72] The Celtics eventually
defeated the Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals in
six games.[73] In the Finals, the Celtics once again faced the Los Angeles Lakers,
a team they previously beat in 2008. In Game 2, Rondo recorded his second triple-
double of the postseason (19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists),[74] however,
despite Rondo's performance, the Celtics succumbed to the Lakers in seven games.
[75]

2010�11 season
In the first game of the 2010�11 season, Rondo put up 17 assists, which tied with
Oscar Robertson for the third-most assists in a season opener.[76] In the third
game of the season, he dished out a career-high 24 assists along with a triple-
double (10 points and 10 rebounds) against the New York Knicks.[77] It tied him
with Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to have at least 24 assists in
a triple-double.[78] His total of 50 assists through the first three games of the
season tied John Stockton's NBA record for most assists in the first 3 games of the
season.[78] In the next game against the Detroit Pistons, he finished the game with
17 assists for a total of 67 assists, which is the most assists in the team's first
four games in NBA history.[79] With a 15 assists effort the following day, Rondo
again set a record for most assists through the first five games.[80]

Rondo's season also began with injuries. He played through plantar fasciitis in his
feet.[81] He missed three games in November due to a strained left hamstring.[82]
He sprained his left ankle in a win against the New York Knicks on December 15,
2010, and missed the next seven games.[83] On April 22, in the third game of the
first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Rondo had a triple-double
with 20 assists.[84] Rondo set a Celtics franchise record for most assists in a
playoff game. He was also tied with LeBron James with 6 career triple-doubles in
the playoffs until James reached his seventh further on in the playoffs during Game
4 of the Finals.[84] Rondo had the third best selling jersey in the league during
the 2010�11 season, behind only James and Kobe Bryant.[85]

2011�12 season

Rondo in December 2011

On February 21, 2012, Rondo was named an injury replacement for Joe Johnson on the
Eastern Conference roster at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.[86] With 18 points, 17
rebounds, and 20 assists against the Knicks on March 4, he joined Wilt Chamberlain,
Magic Johnson, and Jason Kidd as the only players to have at least 15 points,
rebounds, and assists in the same game.[87] In a win against the Heat on April 1,
Rondo registered another triple-double (16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds).[88]
Rondo closed out the regular season with 24 consecutive games of 10 or more
assists. This is not only a Celtics franchise record, but is also the longest
streak the NBA has seen since John Stockton logged a streak of 29 such games in
1992. This streak was still considered active and resumed at the beginning of the
2012�13 regular season.[89]

Rondo posted his sixth triple-double of the season (with 20 assists) in an overtime
win against the Hawks on April 11.[90] He had his first triple double of the 2012
playoffs against the same team on May 4,[91] another on May 13 in the first game of
the second round against the 76ers,[92] and a third on May 26 in the last game of
that round, helping the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference finals.[93] He
joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics players to record a triple-double in a Game
7.[94] In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Rondo scored a career-high 44
points while grabbing 8 rebounds and adding 10 assists.[95] According to the Elias
Sports Bureau, Rondo is the only player in NBA history with 44 points, 10 assists,
and 8 rebounds in a playoff game.[95] On June 6, 2012, Rondo passed Bob Cousy for
having 39 playoff games of 10 or more assists, making him the Celtics' all-time
leader in that area.[96] Rondo recorded another triple double in the seventh game
of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat, ending
their playoff run. This tenth playoff triple-double tied Rondo for third (with
fellow Celtic Larry Bird) among NBA career leaders.[97]

2012�13 season

Rondo in February 2013

Rondo began the season with 24 consecutive games of 10+ assists. He continued that
streak, and recorded his 37th game with 10+ assists against the Orlando Magic on
November 25, 2012, matching John Stockton's longest streak. Only Magic Johnson had
a longer streak (46 games). The streak ended the next game against the Brooklyn
Nets, when he was ejected for fighting with Kris Humphries after Humphries fouled
Rondo's teammate Kevin Garnett. Humphries was also ejected, along with Brooklyn's
Gerald Wallace, who was accused of escalating the incident.[98] Rondo only recorded
three assists before he was ejected. Rondo was voted the starting point guard spot
for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, but on January 27, 2013, during a game with the
Miami Heat, it was revealed that Rondo had torn his ACL and would miss the
remainder of the season.[99] Rondo still led the NBA in assists in the season.

2013�14 season
On January 15, 2014, Rondo was assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League
for training and rehab purposes.[100] Later that day, he was recalled by the
Celtics.[101]

On January 17, 2014, Rondo made his season debut with the Celtics, nearly a year
after tearing his ACL. In 19 minutes of game time, he recorded 8 points, 4 assists
and 2 rebounds in a 104�107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.[102] Upon his return,
he was named the 15th captain in Boston Celtics history.[103] On February 2, 2014,
in a 96�89 win over the Magic, Rondo recorded his first double-double since his
injury (19 points, 10 assists).[104] On April 4, 2014, Rondo recorded his first
triple-double of the season with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists, in a
102�111 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.[105]

2014�15 season
On September 26, 2014, Rondo was ruled out for six to eight weeks after undergoing
surgery to repair a broken left hand. The injury was a result of a fall at his home
the night before.[106][107] After missing the entire preseason, Rondo returned for
the regular season opener on October 29 and recorded 13 points, 12 assists and
seven rebounds in 30 minutes to help the Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets 121�105.
[108] On November 5, he recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists against the
Toronto Raptors.[109] On December 2, he recorded 19 assists and 12 rebounds against
the Atlanta Hawks.[109] On December 7, he recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11
assists against the Washington Wizards.[109] On December 10, he recorded 12 points,
10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Charlotte Hornets.[109] On December 17, in
his final game as a Celtic, Rondo recorded 13 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds
in a 109�92 win over the Orlando Magic.[109][110]

Dallas Mavericks (2014�2015)

On December 18, 2014, Rondo was traded, along with Dwight Powell, to the Dallas
Mavericks in exchange for Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, a 2015 first-
round pick and a 2016 second-round pick.[111] He made his debut for the Mavericks
two days later, scoring six points on 3-for-11 shooting to go with nine assists and
seven rebounds in a 99�93 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[112] In his return to
Boston on January 2, 2015, Rondo scored a career-high 15 first-quarter points,
finishing with a season-best 29 to lead Dallas to a 119�101 victory. Rondo also had
a career-high five 3-pointers and finished with six rebounds and five assists.[113]
Throughout January however, cracks began to appear in the relationship between
Rondo and the Mavericks. Rondo struggled to fit in the Mavericks' system, and he
often butted heads with head coach Rick Carlisle. While there were no reported
issues off the court, Rondo's lack of chemistry with his teammates was noticeable
throughout the season.[114][115] And while the Mavericks' defense slightly improved
with the acquisition of Rondo, their offense took a massive step backward,[114]
dropping from the best in the league to fourth in points per game by late February.
[116] In late April, Rondo and the Mavericks mutually agreed to part ways following
a tumultuous end to the season. Rondo was benched after Game 2 of the Mavericks'
first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets and didn't play again as
Dallas was eliminated in five games. The team claimed that a back injury had
sidelined Rondo indefinitely, but reports later surfaced that that was simply to
"save face" after the two sides decided to part ways.[115] His teammates also
reportedly opted not to give him a playoff share.[115]