On Monday Rajon Rondo revealed that he’s formally retiring from the NBA on the All of the Smoke Productions present. The 4x All-Star and 2x NBA Champion was some of the thrilling playmakers within the NBA throughout his 16-year profession.
Rondo was drafted twenty first total within the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns out of the College of Kentucky earlier than being traded on the identical day to the Boston Celtics. In his rookie season, enjoying predominantly as a backup to Sebastian Telfair, Rondo averaged 6.4 factors and three.8 assists and was identified for his defensive instincts. Rondo can be named to the All-Rookies second workforce.
It was the following yr when Rondo actually burst out after the Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to pair with Paul Pierce to kind the Huge Three in Boston. Within the offers to convey KG and Allen to Boston, the Celtics parted methods with Delonte West and Telfair opening a beginning spot for Rondo.
With a star-studded roster, Rondo led the offense together with his playmaking means whereas additionally being a pest on protection main the workforce in steals and assists. Rondo was a spotlight machine together with his no-look passes, the faux behind-the-back go, and the inventive finishes across the rim.
Within the 2008 Finals, Rondo averaged 9.3 factors, 6.7 assists, and three.8 to assist convey Banner 17 to Boston.
In his remaining time in inexperienced and white, Rondo continued to be the most effective passers within the NBA. Rondo went 37 straight video games with 10+ assists per recreation, which ended towards the Brooklyn Nets when Kris Humphries and Rondo bought right into a battle after a foul.
The Celtics traded Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks within the 2014-15 season, the place he performed out the rest of a five-year, $55 million contract he’d signed in 2010.
The veteran guard turned an NBA journeyman, spending the following seven years with eight groups. For a lot of that interval, he remained a precious, productive chief on the ground. However he struggled each within the area and outdoors it.
In 2015, enjoying on a one-year take care of the Sacramento Kings, Rondo was suspended one recreation by the NBA after calling NBA referee Invoice Kennedy a homophobic slur in line with a MassLive report. After this encounter, Kennedy got here out revealing he was homosexual.
Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Pictures
Rondo moved on to hitch the Chicago Bulls for the 2016-17 season alongside Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, a trio the purpose guard self-styled as “the three alphas”. The Bulls waived Rondo on the finish of June 2017, shortly after buying and selling away Butler.
The New Orleans Pelicans have been subsequent, one other productive, if transient, cease.
Ultimately, Rondo signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and was an integral a part of LA’s title run within the 2019-2020 season that completed within the Orlando bubble.
Over the course of the following two seasons, the two-time champ logged video games with the Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Clippers, returned to the Lakers, and landed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Though his means on the court docket couldn’t be questioned, off the court docket Rondo had his fair proportion of points with the regulation.
In Might of 2022, in line with an ESPN article, a girl filed for an “emergency protecting order” towards Rondo in Louisville, Kentucky. The lady alleged that the guard threatened her with a gun.
The lady alleges that Rondo mentioned to her “you’re lifeless” earlier than leaving the home, solely to return shortly thereafter, this time with a gun and demanding to see one of many kids. The lady mentioned she grew fearful of the scenario, so she introduced the kid downstairs, and Rondo pulled the kid outdoors, allegedly whereas nonetheless holding the gun, whereas he yelled at him. He then demanded to see the opposite youngster, too, and she or he additionally got here outdoors, as Rondo yelled at each of them for being afraid of him, the lady alleged.
The order was granted and Rondo needed to keep no less than “no less than 500 toes away from the lady and the youngsters, and should briefly give up any firearms to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Workplace.”
ESPN then reported in June that the protecting order was dismissed after the events reached an settlement.
The authorized points didn’t cease there for Rondo. Earlier this yr, the previous Wildcat was arrested on gun and marijuana prices in Indiana. Rondo was stopped for a visitors violation the place a police officer “smelled marijuana” which led to a search of the automotive the place they discovered a gun that was unlawfully possessed.
Though paramount in his efforts to convey Boston and LA a championship, Rondo is just not one with out his faults. A 16-year profession crammed with highlights and fond reminiscences for followers is hindered by incidents each on and off the court docket.
Rondo will likely be remembered in Boston as a cussed guard who at his peak was the most effective guards within the league. Apart from the off court docket points, quantity 9 will at all times be celebrated when followers suppose again in regards to the ‘08 season.
