Rajon Rondo is one of the most dynamic passers in the NBA today and he consistently leads the league in assists. He is known for his tremendous defense and playmaking abilities. Rondo has recently returned from a devastating knee injury suffered in January of last year. While he is still returning to pre-injury form, Rondo is one of the most exciting playmakers in the league. Rondo has been successful at every stage of his career and at only 27 years old he is still in the prime of his career. He is already one of the most decorated Celtics players in their history and he still has a long career ahead of him.

Early Life

Rondo was born in Louisville, Kentucky on February 22, 1986. His mom raised him and his three brothers as a single mother. Rondo’s father left the family when he was seven years old. Rondo’s mother worked three jobs to support her children. This meant Rondo had a lot of free time without much adult supervision. Originally, Rondo’s passion was football, however; his mother insisted he play basketball, as it was safer. For three years Rondo attended Eastern High School, where he excelled at basketball. At Eastern High, Rondo was a walking triple double averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists per game.

Following his junior year Rondo transferred to Oak Hill Academy, a basketball powerhouse located in Virginia. In his senior season Rondo averaged 21 points, three rebounds, and 12 assists per game. Oak Hill finished 38-0 that season. All of his successes earned him high praise from scouts, and Rondo was ranked as the 11th best player in the 2004 recruiting class. Many people expected Rondo to sign with his hometown team of Louisville and pair up with fellow star point guard Sebastian Telfair. However, Rondo chose to sign with the University of Kentucky.

College Career

Rondo, along with Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris, earned Kentucky the number rated recruiting class of 2004. Rondo immediately became the Wildcats starting point guard and he led them to great success. In his freshman year, Kentucky finished 28-6 and finished second in the SEC. Kentucky was one of the top seeds in the NCAA Tournament and managed to make it to the Elite Eight, where they then lost to Michigan State. On the season, Rondo finished with averages of eight points, three assists, three rebounds, and three steals per game. Rondo’s game was criticized by NBA scouts, as he was an ineffective shooter and relied on driving to the basket too often.

Rondo elected to return to Kentucky to for his sophomore season. Despite improvement for Rondo, the Wildcats struggled and finished with a record of 22-13. Rondo had some especially strong performances, including a 19 rebound outing in a loss to Iowa. On the season Rondo increased his averages to 11 points, five assists, six rebounds, and two steals per game. Once again, Rondo was criticized for his poor shooting, however; he excelled as a distributor and rebounder, especially considering his size. Following his sophomore year, Rondo announced he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and declare for the NBA Draft.

NBA Career

Rondo was selected with the 21st pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. However, he was then traded to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics also acquired Sebastian Telfair, Rondo’s teammate had he gone to Louisville. In his rookie season rondo started 25 games but played primarily as the backup to Telfair and Delonte West. He finished the season with averages of six points, four assists, and four assists per game, which earned him All-Rookie Second Team honors.

Both Telfair and West were traded in the 2007 offseason, making Rondo the starter. Rondo had the fortune of being able to play alongside Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. Rondo started all 77 games he played in and averaged 10 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game. The Celtics achieved great success in Rondo’s second year and the Celtics earned the number one seed in the playoffs. The Celtics then went on to beat the Hawks, Cavaliers, and Pistons on route to the NBA Finals. In the finals, the Celtics faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite an injury in game three, Rondo played very well in the series. The Celtics went on to win the NBA Championship in six games.

The Celtics started the 2008-2009 season with a record of 27-2, including a 19 game win streak. Rondo also recorded his first career triple-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists. Despite the hot start, the Celtics struggled down the stretch, but still finished with a record of 62-20, finishing second in the East. In the first playoffs series against the Chicago Bulls, Rondo earned two triple-doubles and became the first player to do so since Larry Bird. The Celtics managed to beat the Bulls and then proceeded to play the Orlando Magic. Once again Rondo averaged a triple-double, but the Celtics still lost the series. Rondo increased his averages to 12 points, eight assists, and five rebounds per game.

At the start of his fourth season in the league, Rondo signed a five year, $55 million contract extension. Rondo went on to have the best year of his career, averaging 13 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds. This production earned him his first ever All-Star nomination. The Celtics were once again one of the top teams in the East, finishing with a record of 50-32. In the playoffs, the Celtics beat the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic on way to another NBA Finals appearance. The Celtics faced off once again with the Los Angeles Lakers, however; the Celtic eventually lost in seven games. Rondo recorded two more triple doubles in the playoffs and performed very well.

Rondo started the 2010 season in a record breaking fashion, totaling 72 assists in his first five games. Unfortunately, Rondo also battled injuries this season and missed over 10 games. Once again the Celtics were very successful, finishing third in the East. The Celtics eventually lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat. In the next season, Rondo continued to improve and he recorded a total 10 triple-doubles in the regular season and postseason combined. The Celtics were once again one of the top teams in the East but they eventually fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Rondo began the 2012 season with 24 straight 10 assist games. The streak continued for 37 games until it was broken when Rondo was ejected for fighting with Kris Humphries. Rondo was once again named an All-Star but torn his ACL on January 27th against the Miami Heat. Rondo made his return on January 17 of this year, making it nearly a year since he suffered the injury. Rondo is currently averaging 10 points, seven assists, and five rebounds per game.

Personal Life and Accomplishments

• Rondo has two children with his fiancée, Ashley Bachelor
• In 2011, he founded the Rajon Rondo Foundation, aimed to help low income children
• Rondo is known for his tremendous rebounding ability despite his 6’1” frame
• In 2009, Rondo signed an endorsement with Red Bull, making him the first NBA athlete to do so
• In the 2008-2009 playoff series Rondo recorded two triple doubles, making him the first player to do so since Jason Kidd in 2002
• At the star of the 2010-2011 season, Rondo recorded 17 assists, tying Oscar Robertson for the third-most assists in a season opener
• Rondo is currently the only remaining player on the Celtic roster from the 2008 Championship squad