Rajon Rondo's rebellious nature led him on a journey of wandering throughout his career, with the entire league waiting for his retirement because he is considered the ideal coaching candidate.
Having left the Celtics, Rajon Rondo may have forgotten that he was no longer the leader of the Mavericks. He remained as defiant as he was in Boston, openly criticizing head coach Rick Carlisle for calling a timeout during a game. This behavior quickly had consequences; following the match, the team announced that Rondo would miss the rest of the season due to a recurring back injury. This decision came at a critical time, as the Mavericks were facing the Rockets in the playoffs. The decision to sideline their starting point guard indicated that Rondo's issues had affected team unity, making his departure from the team inevitable.
It seemed as if the Mavericks were subtly warning the Bulls' coaching staff about Rondo's potential for causing trouble. They suggested that while Rondo is a good player with a deep understanding of the game, he tends to create problems each season. This prediction was soon proven correct when, during a regular-season game against his former team, the Mavericks, Rondo, as the Bulls' main player, made five turnovers and only two assists. He blamed this performance on assistant coach Jim Boylen, berating him and throwing a towel in his face. Once again, Rondo became a destabilizing factor for the team, leading to his contract being terminated despite it being a two-year deal.
Even after achieving the best record for the team, they were determined to rebuild, partly because DeMarcus Cousins, recovering from a serious injury, demanded a max contract for renewal, which the team was unwilling to offer. Similarly, they did not plan to renew Rondo's contract.
Left with no choice, Rondo embarked on another journey of wandering, having left the Celtics. Max contracts were no longer within his reach, and he had to accept salaries below ten million dollars. Despite being an assist leader and capable of controlling the pace of the game, his lack of shooting ability made it difficult for him to survive in today's NBA. Additionally, his defiant personality made him unpopular with coaching staffs, even struggling to coexist with players like Ray Allen, who are known for their silence, let alone the arrogant young players of today.
Year after year, changing teams gave Rondo the feeling of being abandoned by the league. His family became his reason to persevere, as they knew his abilities, proven since 2008. As a Celtics legend, joining the Lakers was something Rondo never considered, yet he aimed to prove he was still one of the best guards in the league. However, persistent injuries forced him into long-term absences.
The Lakers management considered trading Rondo, even finding a replacement. It wasn't until the league's suspension due to the mask incident that Rondo's retirement seemed imminent.
During the shortened season, many players refused to play for health reasons, including the Lakers' Avery Bradley, whose absence left their perimeter defense vulnerable. Fortunately, Rondo was there, although he returned late in the playoffs. In the first game against the Rockets, the Lakers lost by 15 points, with Rondo's performance being particularly poor. Post-game, reporters covering the event pointed the finger at Rondo, suggesting he should be benched.
Understanding that results speak in competitive sports, Rondo responded in the next game with nine assists and five steals, revitalizing the team and silencing those who wanted him benched.
Throughout the series, he averaged ten assists, making the Lakers' offense flow smoothly, helping them eliminate the Rockets and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Against the Nuggets, Rondo once again demonstrated his court control, recording nine assists and two steals in the first game to secure the win. In the second game, he made a crucial assist in the final moments to help his teammate Anthony Davis score the game-winning shot against the Nuggets.
In the third game's closing moments, when everyone else had given up, Rondo and his teammate Alex Caruso forced a turnover from the Nuggets, securing two seemingly insignificant points.
This sequence left commentators Yang Yi and Ke Fan speechless, repeatedly exclaiming "eight points." Rondo had perfectly completed the task set by the betting company, making those who witnessed it hesitant to bet again. Ke Fan was one of the victims of such a scenario.
This incident did not deter the Lakers, who went on to win two more games, eliminating the Nuggets 4-1 and meeting the Heat in the finals.
Despite facing Erik Spoelstra, who knew LeBron James well, the well-equipped Lakers did not give the Heat many opportunities. Rondo contributed with an average of 8.7 points and 5.5 assists per game, revitalizing the second unit and helping the team win the championship in the园区赛 with a 4-2 series victory.
He became the only player in history to win championships with both the Celtics and the Lakers. Hoping to continue his success with the Lakers, Rondo received news that there was no place for him on the team. Understandably, as long as James is present, he would not tolerate other players exerting influence, as was the case with Wade and Irving, let alone Rondo.
With no other option, Rondo chose to wander again. Fortunately, his impressive performance in the finals caught the attention of the Hawks, who signed him to a two-year, $15 million contract to mentor Trae Young. In the twilight of his career, Rondo endured the hardships of constant relocation, moving from the Hawks to the Clippers, back to the Lakers, and finally to the Cavaliers.
Perhaps even Rondo did not expect that the game against the Bucks on April 10, 2022, would be his last in the NBA. In that game, he recorded 13 assists with only one turnover and single-digit scoring, playing a very "Rondo-style" game. Since then, he has not appeared in an NBA game.
Given Rondo's tactical acumen, he is the most anticipated coaching candidate for all NBA team managements. He shares this sentiment, choosing not to join an NBA coaching staff for training after leaving the league. Instead, he started his journey of growth from high school, where his son Pierre, a talented player inheriting his basketball IQ, plays.
It may not be long before we see Rondo back in the NBA, this time addressed as Coach Rondo.
When do you think Rondo will officially start his NBA coaching career? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
