Rajon Rondo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

As the Celtics' starting point guard, Rondo helped the team win the NBA Finals in 2008 and return in 2010. He led the league in assists three times and in steals once; he ranks fourth in Celtics history in assists and third in steals. Rondo recorded 32 regular season triple-doubles (16th in NBA history) and 10 in the playoffs (sixth). After 8+1⁄2 seasons with Boston, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2014. He later played for the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers (two stints), Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He won a second championship in 2020 with the Lakers.

In Their Own Story

In Game 3 of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo rolled his ankle in the third quarter but returned for Game 4, proving his resilience. The series culminated in a decisive victory where Rondo delivered one of his most critical performances. In Game 6, he posted a playoff career-high six steals, dismantling the Lakers' defense and securing the title with a 4–2 series win. Following that game, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson explicitly called Rondo the "star" of the contest. This moment cemented his status as more than just a supporting player; he was the catalyst who enabled the Celtics to achieve their best single-season improvement in NBA history and claim the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

Reader's Guide

Rondo was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and has three siblings. He attended Eastern High School for three years, then transferred to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year, where he averaged 21.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 12.0 assists per game and finished with a 38–0 record. He was named a McDonald's All-American in 2004. In college at Kentucky, he set a school record for steals in a single season (87) and averaged 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.6 steals as a freshman. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.1 steals. He was drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2006 and traded to the Celtics.

Did You Know?

• Rondo led the NBA in assists three times and in steals once.
• He ranks fourth in Celtics history in assists and third in steals.
• Rondo recorded 32 regular season triple-doubles, 16th most in NBA history.
• He won his second NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.