Rajon Rondo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Rondo played two years of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft and immediately traded to the Boston Celtics. As the team's starting point guard, Rondo helped the Celtics win the NBA Finals in 2008 and return in 2010. Rondo was a versatile facilitator, leading the league in assists three times and in steals once; he ranks fourth in Celtics history in assists and third in steals. Rondo has been described as a 'stat-sheet stuffer' as his 32 regular season triple-doubles rank 16th in NBA history, while his 10 in the playoffs rank sixth. He is regarded as one of the Celtics' greatest point guards ever. After 8+1⁄2 seasons with the Celtics, Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2014. After a tumultuous five-month stint he turned into a journeyman, joining the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers (two stints), Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers over the next 7+1⁄2 years. 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 on February 22, 1986, in Louisville, Kentucky. He has three siblings. 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. Rondo was first interested in football, before his mother steered him towards basketball. He attended Louisville's Eastern High School for three years, then transferred to Virginia's Oak Hill Academy for his senior year. He was named to the McDonald's All-American Team in 2004. In college, Rondo committed to Kentucky over Louisville. He set a Kentucky record for most steals in a single season with 87 in his freshman year. He was drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2006 and traded to the Boston Celtics. He won his first NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008 and a second with the Lakers in 2020.

Did You Know?

• Rondo ranks fourth in Celtics history in assists and third in steals.
• He led the NBA in assists three times and in steals once.
• Rondo recorded 32 regular season triple-doubles, ranking 16th in NBA history.
• He set a Kentucky record for most steals in a single season with 87 in his sophomore year.