Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo has not played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season and recently turned 38 years old. It seems unlikely that the veteran guard will make a successful return to the game.
Rondo has officially announced his retirement from the NBA.
Rondo confirmed his retirement during the April 1 episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast, stating, “Yes, I'm finished. I prefer to spend time with my children.” April 1 episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast. “Yeah, I’m done. I’d rather spend time with my kids.”
Rondo played a crucial role in two separate championship victories. He served as the starting point guard for the Boston Celtics during their 2008 championship run and was a rotation player for the Lakers in 2020. Boston Celtics Phoenix Suns
before being traded to Boston. He quickly became a vital part of the Celtics, contributing to a Big Four alongside Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, and earning four consecutive All-Star selections from 2009 to 2013. In addition to his All-Star appearances, Rondo was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, achieved two NBA All-Defensive First Team honors, and led the NBA in assists three times. Rajon Rondo Loved Every Minute of NBA Career
Rajon Rondo played for nine different teams, almost a third of the NBA. Despite spending nine seasons in Boston and not finding a long-term home afterward, he has no regrets about his career trajectory.
Rondo reflected on his career, expressing appreciation for the experiences and relationships it offered, stating, “Definitely something I never took for granted while I was in the game. I loved every minute of it, and I appreciate the brotherhood I was able to share, and bond, and grow with over the years. I learned so much in this game, and it’s made me the man who I am today.”
Rondo may have presented challenges from a personality perspective and encountered off-court issues, but he consistently earned the respect of his teammates and excelled in crucial game moments.
Rajon Rondo Believes NBA Puts Too Much Focus on Scoring
Rajon Rondo embodies the qualities of traditional point guards, prioritizing passing over scoring and never averaging more than 13.7 points per game throughout his career. His strength lies in his passing ability, evident by his career total of 7,584 assists which ranks 15th in NBA history. However, Rondo believes that the current emphasis on scoring negatively impacts the recognition of playmaking and leadership on the court, highlighting that young players focusing solely on scoring are overshadowing the game’s artistry and court control he represents. Rajon stated, “I think the big reason for that is because now scoring is glorified. The game is pushed so much in a way that if you can score you can get to the league. I think the game is a lost art of actual leaders on the court like myself, who can handle the game when a coach gets ejected.
There are many facets to basketball besides scoring, but given the current abundance of proficient scorers in the NBA, it’s understandable why Rondo's style of play is no longer as highly valued.
The former Los Angeles Lakers guard and four-time All-Star has officially concluded his NBA career after over a decade of play. 13.7 points a game in his career. He made his bones on his passing ability and is 15th in NBA history with 7,584 assists in his career.
However, the NBA doesn’t have much room for guards who pass and can’t shoot anymore. Rondo believes that young players who coming into the NBA are putting far too much emphasis on scoring.
“I think the big reason for that is because now scoring is glorified. The game is pushed so much in a way that if you can score you can get to the league. I think the game is a lost art of actual leaders on the court like myself, who can handle the game when a coach gets ejected,” Rajon said.
There are a lot of aspects to basketball that aren’t simply getting the ball into the hoop but that’s the ultimate goal. With so many great scorers in the NBA now, it’s easy to see why Rondo didn’t fit in anymore.
