“Problem child” Rondo quits: The unpredictable NBA genius who couldn’t throw

“Problem child” Rondo stops
The unpredictable NBA genius who couldn’t shoot

April 3, 2024, 8:24 p.m

Rajon Rondo is one of the best development players of his generation. He celebrated the NBA championship twice. His passing was exceptional and his defense was outstanding. However, the now 38-year-old also had two major weaknesses. Now his career is officially over.

Rajon Rondo has long since disappeared from the basketball floor. The playmaker hasn’t played a game in the NBA for two years. But his dazzling career in the best basketball league in the world was not officially over. That changed this Tuesday evening. He explained on the “All The Smoke” podcast that his time is finally up. “Yes, it’s over,” he said in response to a question from moderators Matt Barnes and Stephan Jackson, former professionals themselves. “I can’t do it anymore. I’d rather spend time with my children.”

Rondo completed 16 seasons in the NBA. He has 1091 games on his account. He was under contract with nine clubs. He had his best time with the Boston Celtics, with whom he began his career in 2006, for whom he played until 2014 and with whom he became champions in 2008. He collected a second championship ring in the late fall of his career, in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

During his turbulent journey through the league, he was repeatedly set back by injuries, but his incredible talent continued to shine through. For example with the New Orleans Pelicans (2017/18) or with the Lakers. Alongside LeBron James. The best pitcher in league history raved on Tuesday evening: “A spectacular player.” Rondo is one of the best players “I’ve ever played with. Obviously his IQ is out of this world and I was very lucky to work with him.” In previous years, the two very different types were bitter rivals.

From footballer to NBA giant

Rondo’s career began far away from the basketball floor. At first he tried out as a football player. But because his mother was afraid for him because of his rather slight stature, she turned him to basketball. He excelled at high school and the University of Kentucky, breaking numerous records. Once he scored 55 points, another time he delivered 31 (!) assists in a game. He also collected the most steals per season in the history of his university (87). Early on his way to the NBA, he already indicated what sets him apart as a basketball player: an outstanding eye for his teammates, which he had trained as a quarterback during his football days, and a tough defense.

Rondo led the NBA in steals per game in the 2009-10 season. He made the league’s All-Defensive team four times. In terms of assists per game, he achieved incredible numbers in the 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2015/16 seasons, with an average of over eleven assists per game in each case. His brilliant passes were paintings, reminiscent of the gorgeous passes by John Stockton, probably the best foreman of all time, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki’s supplier, and Jason Kidd, all of whom remain among the best passers in history. With his speed and his lurking and cunning game he attracted the attention of his opponents. Because he preferred to put his teammates in the spotlight rather than finish himself, he often looked for the “right” idea.

In December 2017, when he was with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he was successful after difficult years, including with the Mavericks, he once provided 25 assists for his teammates. No player in the history of the franchise has ever achieved this. The fact that he broke the record of his intimate enemy Chris Paul (22) was a particularly sweet note of his gala. With nine games with 20 or more assists, he is third in the all-time best list, behind the outstanding Earvin “Magic” Johnson (34 games) and the no less legendary John Stockton (22 games).

A stubborn man with a short fuse

In 957 career regular season games, he averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals. In 134 playoff appearances, he increased those numbers to 12.5 points, 8.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals. He was considered one of the best playmakers of his generation, alongside Paul, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry. But Rondo, whose large hands and long arms are more suited to a 2.13-meter giant than a 1.85-meter frame player, also had two flaws.

He had terrible shooting from midrange and three-point range, and for years he attempted less than one three-pointer per game. His opponents sometimes invited him to do so – because they knew how small the danger was. The free throw was also shockingly bad for a man of his position and class; the rate of just over 60 percent is among the worst in NBA history. For comparison: Dirk Nowitzki hit more than 87 percent of his free throws, the current leader is Steph Curry with around 91 percent. Rondo owed his solid field throw rate of 45.6 percent solely to his irresistible drive to the basket.

Added to this were his stubbornness and his short fuse. There is no shortage of examples of both. Rondo had his own plan in mind. And if it didn’t agree with the coach’s, then the player decided on his own in case of doubt. The legendary Doc Rivers, coach during the successful era at the Boston Celtics with the big stars Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, largely tolerated the egotism of his extroverted playmaker. But not every colleague followed suit. With the Dallas Mavericks he clashed with Rick Carlisle several times. The coach wanted the ball to circulate quickly, the player preferred to have the ball in his hand for a long time and then decide what to do. Rondo was once even suspended for a game because he had a heated argument with the coach over a play.

“The journey was not a dream, but a goal”

Rondo’s hot-headedness not only erupted in a duel with the coach, Rondo also lost control of himself from time to time. Once he got into a fight with Chris Paul. Rondo is said to have spat on his intimate enemy. Another time he kicked Dennis Schröder in the abdomen and verbally attacked a homosexual referee well below the belt. And in recent years, after his career on the court, he has attracted attention with gun and drug stories. He was briefly arrested for this at the end of January this year. Two years ago he is said to have threatened a woman with a weapon in the presence of her children.

“What a time. It was definitely something I never took for granted when I was in the game,” Rondo said of his colorful career. “I have enjoyed every minute and appreciate the brotherhood that I have been able to share, bond and grow with over the years. I have learned so much in this game and it has made me the man I am today. I I constantly told people that this path was not a dream of mine, but the goal.”