During the NBA playoffs this season, we saw one of the best players in the league, Rajon Rondo, come back from a serious injury and perform at an elite level. He is a superstar that many believe will one day be a member of the Hall of Fame.
NBA career
During his 10 years in the NBA, Rajon Rondo has racked up a long list of achievements. He has won two NBA championships, finished as the league’s leader in assists three times, and even made the NBA All-Star team for four straight seasons. As a player, Rondo is a jack of all trades. He is a point guard, a shooting guard, a forward, and even a center.
Although his first seven years in the league were spent with the Boston Celtics, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2014-15 season. He is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
While he spent the majority of his time in the Boston Celtics’ starting lineup, he also played a significant role as a back-up. He was one of the main reasons for Boston’s 2007-08 NBA title. He led the team in assists and steals. He also set a franchise record for three-pointers made in a season with a total of 303.
Mavericks career
During his five-month stint with the Mavericks, Rajon Rondo didn’t do much to draw attention. But he did have some memorable moments, including a torn ACL against the New Jersey Nets and a heated exchange with head coach Rick Carlisle.
As part of a trade deal in December 2014, the Mavericks traded for Rajon Rondo. But the real star of the trade was Jae Crowder. As part of the deal, Rondo also received a first-round draft pick. After the trade, Rondo and the Mavs agreed to a mutual parting of the ways.
While it’s true that Rondo’s arrival changed the trajectory of the Mavericks’ scoring prowess, the Mavs were already one of the top offenses in the league. With him, they were scoring 103.4 points per 100 possessions.
Rondo also led the Mavericks in assists and steals. And he has a knack for timing plays. He was also selected to the Sophomore Team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge.
Boston Celtics career
Despite the fact that he didn’t start a single game in his rookie season, Rajon Rondo was named NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He also finished the year ranked in the top 10 in several categories. His averages of 6.4 points and 3.8 assists were ranked in the top ten among all rookies.
Before he played in the NBA, Rajon Rondo attended the University of Kentucky. He earned a scholarship to play for the Wildcats. He then transferred to Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy for his senior year.
After two years at Kentucky, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2006. He spent eight seasons with the team before he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2007 for Brian Grant. He then moved to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008. He was a part of the Lakers’ NBA Championship in 2008 and the team’s second title in 2020.
NBA playoffs
Whether or not Rajon Rondo will make the Hall of Fame is something that is still up in the air. His career has been a long one and he has been around for a while. He has a solid resume and is a multi-time All-Star. His postseason success is also an important factor in his chances of making it into the Hall of Fame.
He is one of the best rebounding guards in the league. He has made two All-Defensive teams in the past four seasons. He has averaged ten assists per game for the past three years and leads the NBA in assists this season.
He is also known for his ability to be an explosive player when needed. He has had a streak of 24 straight double digit assists games in the playoffs. He has a chance to be an all-time assist leader, if he can stay healthy. He also has the finesse and skills to stay in the game.
