Rajon Rondo - Wiki Article

Rajon Rondo Rajon Pierre Rondo (born February 22, 1986) is an American professional basketball
point guard with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born
in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school
basketball career, before receiving a scholarship from the University of Kentucky. He played
for two years at Kentucky before declaring for the 2006 NBA Draft. During the draft,
he was selected 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns, and was subsequently traded to the Boston
Celtics, where he made his NBA debut as a rookie during the 2006–07 season. Rondo
played a supporting role before he established himself as the starting point guard for the
Celtics during the 2007–08 season. That season, Rondo earned his first NBA championship,
playing alongside All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. His breakout performance
came during the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where he nearly averaged a triple-double, and helped
his team take the eventual Eastern-conference champion Orlando Magic seven games in the
Eastern semi-finals. He is a three-time All-Star, one-time All-NBA team selection and a four-time
All-Defensive member. He also led the NBA in steals during the 2009–10 and assists
during 2011–12, and ranks seventh in Celtics history in assists and fourth in steals. Early
life Rondo was born on February 22, 1986 in Louisville, Kentucky to Amber Rondo. He has
three siblings: Dymon, William and Anton. He had little contact with his father, who
left his family when he was seven years old. To support the family, his mother worked the
third shift at Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company. 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. After Rondo became serious about basketball, he attended
Louisville's Eastern High School for three years where he played under head coach Doug
Bibby. 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. 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.
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. 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.
He also participated in the 2004 Jordan Capital Classic game, logging 12 points, 5 assists
and 4 steals. He ended his career as Oak Hill Academy's all-time assists leader in a single
season with 494 assists, surpassing Jeff McInnis. College career Rondo committed to University
of Kentucky over hometown University of Louisville. Rondo, along with All-Americans Joe Crawford
and Randolph Morris, gave Kentucky the top-rated recruiting class for 2004 according to Rivals.com.
Rondo led Kentucky to several wins including clutch-shot victories against the University
of 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. He set a Kentucky Wildcats 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. He finished his freshman year at Kentucky averaging 8.1 points, 2.9
rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals. In his sophomore year he had a career high 12 assists
against Ole Miss, despite playing just 23 minutes, and 25 points against Louisville.
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. 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. Rondo was also named to the 2005 USA
Men's Under-21 World Championship Team, which traveled to Argentina for the FIBA World Championships.
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. NBA career Following the 2005–06 NCAA season, Rondo announced he would forgo his
final two seasons at Kentucky and enter the NBA draft. 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. He was the first point guard to be chosen in the draft. 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. He was
signed by the Boston Celtics on July 4, 2006. 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. 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, and record his first career double-double
in a road losing effort against the Washington Wizards. 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. After officially becoming a starter,
he began to receive more playing time (career-high forty-seven minutes of playing time) and show
improvement (career-high fourteen rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs, and a career-high
seven steals against the Indiana Pacers). As the mid-season approached, his numbers
began to increase, which earned him an All-Rookie Second Team selection. He finished the season
with an average of 6.4 ppg and 3.8 apg, ranking in the top ten in the NBA in steals (128)
and also ranking in the top ten among rookies in several other categories, including first
in steals, second in assists and sixth in minutes. In the end, however, the Celtics
finished the season with a 24–58 win-loss record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
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. 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). 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. He made his
successful return from injury and to the starting lineup in a road win against the New York
Knicks. A week later, he matched his career-high against the Miami Heat, and then scored a
career-high 24 points in a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers the following month.
During the All-Star break, he was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the T-Mobile
Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam. Following the All-Star weekend, Rondo recorded a career-high
16 assists in a home victory against the Charlotte Bobcats. Despite his solid rookie year, there
was much speculation about Boston needing a veteran point guard. In March, they signed
veteran point guard Sam Cassell as a free agent to serve as a backup. 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. 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
defeated 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. The ankle injury was considered a "non-factor", and Rondo eventually made
his return in Game 4. 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. 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. Rondo's numbers
increased from his previous season performance; however, he was criticized for his shooting.
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. In a home win against the New York
Knicks, Rondo led the team to tie a franchise record with eighteen straight wins. However,
after the winning streak was snapped the team struggled, losing seven out of nine games
after ending the streak. 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.
Less than a week later against the Mavericks, he recorded his second career triple-double
(19 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists), and then recorded a career-high 32 points against
the Phoenix Suns on his 23rd birthday. He became the first NBA athlete to sign an endorsement
contract with Red Bull on April 17, 2009. He finished the season ranking fifth in the
NBA in assists (8.2) and steals (1.9). 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. Boston
won the next two games and in Games 2 and 4, Rondo recorded triple-doubles 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. In
Game 6, he recorded a career-high 19 assists without a turnover, tying an NBA playoffs
record. 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. However, the Celtics were defeated in seven games in the Eastern
Conference Semi-Finals. During the postseason, Rondo nearly averaged a triple double with
16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists. 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. On November 2, 2009, Rondo signed a five-year extension
with the Celtics worth a guaranteed $55 million. 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. Three days later, Rondo scored 30 points along to go with 15 assists
in a road loss to the Golden State Warriors. 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. 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. He also competed
in the 2010 H-O-R-S-E contest but lost In the finals to Kevin Durant. 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. 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. 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. 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. In Game 4, he recorded his fourth postseason
triple-double along with a playoff career-high 29 points and 18 rebounds. 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. The Celtics eventually defeated the Cavaliers
and the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. 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), however, despite Rondo's performance, the Celtics succumbed to the
Lakers in seven games. 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. 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. It tied him with Isiah Thomas as the
only players in NBA history to have at least 24 assists in a triple-double. 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. 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 teams first four games in NBA history. With a 15 assists effort the following
day, Rondo again set a record for most assists through the first five games. Rondo's season
also began with injuries. He played through plantar fasciitis in his feet. He missed three
games in November due to a strained left hamstring. He sprained his left ankle in a win against
the New York Knicks on December 15, 2010, and missed the next seven games. 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. 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.
Rondo had the third best selling jersey in the league during the 2010-11 season, behind
only James and Kobe Bryant. 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. 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. In a win against the Heat on April 1, Rondo registered another
triple-double (16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds). Rondo closed out the regular season
with 24 consecutive games of 10+ 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. Only Magic Johnson and Stockton have streaks longer than Rondo's,
which is still considered active and will resume at the beginning of the 2012-13 regular
season. Rondo posted his sixth triple-double of the season (with 20 assists) in an overtime
win against the Hawks on April 11. He had his first triple double of the 2012 playoffs
against the same team on May 4, another on May 13 in the first game of the second round
against the 76ers, and a third on May 26 in the last game of that round, helping the Celtics
advance to the Eastern Conference finals. He joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics players
to record a triple-double in a Game 7. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Rondo
scored a career high 44 points while grabbing 8 rebounds and adding 10 assists. 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. On June 6, 2012, Rondo passed Bob Cousy for having
39 playoff games of 10 or more assists, making him the Celtic's all-time leader in that area.
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
ties Rondo for third (with fellow Celtic Larry Bird) among NBA career leaders. NBA career
statistics Correct as of end of the 2011-12 season Awards and honors Rondo at the championship
parade of the 2008 NBA Champions Boston Celtics. 1× NBA Champion: 2008 3× NBA All-Star: 2010,
2011, 2012 1× All-NBA Team: Third Team: 2012 4× NBA All-Defensive: First Team: 2010, 2011
Second Team: 2009, 2012 NBA All-Rookie selection: Second team: 2007 NBA regular season leader:
2010: most steals (189), most steals per game (2.3) 2012: most assists per game (11.7),
most triple-doubles (6) NBA postseason leader: 2008: most assists (172), most steals (45)
2009: most assists (127), most triple-doubles (3) 2010: most triple-doubles (2), most steals
(46) 2011: most triple-doubles (1) 2012: most assists (227), most assists per game (11.9),
most triple-doubles (4) Boston Celtics franchise records: Most assists in a single season:
794 (2009–10) Most steals in a single season: 189 (2009–10) Most assists in a playoff
game: 20 (2010–11) Most assists per game (season): 11.7 (2011-12) Most consecutive
games with 10+ assists (regular season): 24* (2011-12) *active streak