Rajon Rondo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rajon Rondo

Rondo with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017
Personal information
Born	(1986-02-22) February 22, 1986 (age 39) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
High school	Eastern (Middletown, Kentucky) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky (2004–2006)
NBA Draft	2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	2006–2022
Career history
2006–2014	Boston Celtics
2014–2015	Dallas Mavericks
2015–2016	Sacramento Kings
2016–2017	Chicago Bulls
2017–2018	New Orleans Pelicans
2018–2020	Los Angeles Lakers
2020–2021	Atlanta Hawks
2021	Los Angeles Clippers
2021–2022	Los Angeles Lakers
2022	Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (2008, 2020) 4× NBA All-Star (2010–2013) All-NBA Third Team (2012) 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2010, 2011) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2009, 2012) 3× NBA assists leader (2012, 2013, 2016) NBA steals leader (2010) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2007) SEC All-Freshman Team (2005) Second-team Parade All-American (2004) McDonald's All-American (2004)
Career NBA statistics
Points	9,337 (9.8 ppg)
Rebounds	4,349 (4.5 rpg)
Assists	7,584 (7.9 apg)

Rajon Pierre Rondo Sr. (born February 22, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player. Rondo won two NBA championships during his career. He was chosen as an NBA All-Star four times. He also earned four NBA All-Defensive Team honors. In 2012, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

Rondo played two years of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was then drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft. He was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics. As the team's starting point guard, Rondo helped the Celtics win the NBA Finals in 2008. They also returned to the Finals in 2010.

Rondo was known for being a great passer and defender. He led the league in assists three times and in steals once. He is fourth in Celtics history for assists and third for steals. Rondo was known for getting "triple-doubles" (reaching double digits in three different stats in one game). He had 32 triple-doubles in regular season games, which is 16th in NBA history. He also had 10 in playoff games, ranking sixth. Many consider him one of the Celtics' best point guards ever.

After playing for the Celtics for 8 and a half seasons, Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2014. After that, he played for several other teams. These included the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers (twice), Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He won his second championship in 2020 with the Lakers. Rondo announced his retirement from basketball on April 2, 2024.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Rajon Rondo was born on February 22, 1986, in Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up with three siblings. His father left the family when Rajon was seven years old. His mother worked hard to support the family.

Rajon was first interested in football. However, his mother encouraged him to play basketball. She thought it would be easier on his body since he was thin.

Once Rondo became serious about basketball, he went to Eastern High School in Louisville for three years. In his junior year, he averaged 27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. This earned him All-State honors. He was also named the 7th Region Player of the Year.

For his senior year, he moved to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. There, he averaged 21.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 12.0 assists per game. His team finished the 2003–04 season with a perfect 38–0 record. At Oak Hill, Rondo broke the school record for most assists in a single season with 494. He even had two games with 27 assists and one game with a school-record 31 assists! He also scored 55 points in one high school game.

Rondo was chosen for the McDonald's All-American Team in 2004. He scored 14 points, had 4 assists, and 4 rebounds in that all-star game. He was also named a second-team Parade All-American.

College Basketball Career

Rondo decided to play college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He chose Kentucky over his hometown team, the Louisville Cardinals. Rondo was part of a top-rated recruiting class for Kentucky in 2004.

Rondo helped Kentucky win many games. These included victories against Louisville and South Carolina. However, Kentucky did not reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in either of Rondo's two seasons.

He was named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team in 2005. In his freshman year, he set a Kentucky record for most steals in a single season with 87. He had at least one steal in every game. He finished his freshman year averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.6 steals.

In his sophomore year, Rondo had a career-high 12 assists against Ole Miss. He also scored 25 points against Louisville. He set another Kentucky record by getting 19 rebounds in a game against Iowa. This was the most rebounds by a guard in a single game for Kentucky. He averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in his sophomore year.

Rondo also played for the U.S. men's national under-21 basketball team. They won the gold medal at the Global Games in Texas in 2005. His play there caught the attention of many NBA scouts.

Professional Basketball Career

Boston Celtics (2006–2014)

Joining the Celtics

After his sophomore year at Kentucky, Rondo decided to enter the NBA draft. He was picked 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft. However, the Suns immediately traded him to the Boston Celtics. He was the first point guard chosen in that draft. The Celtics officially signed Rondo on July 4, 2006.

Rookie Season (2006–07)

In his first NBA season, Rondo played a supporting role. He shared playing time with other guards. He started in 25 games. On November 1, 2006, he made his NBA debut. He scored a career-high 23 points against the Toronto Raptors while coming off the bench. He also recorded his first career double-double.

As the season went on, Rondo started getting more playing time. He showed improvement, setting a career-high with 14 rebounds and 7 steals in different games. His strong play earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He finished his rookie season averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 assists per game. He led all rookies in steals. However, the Celtics had a tough season and did not make the playoffs.

First NBA Championship (2007–08)

Rondo in May 2008

Before the 2007–08 NBA season, the Celtics traded away other guards. This allowed Rondo to become the full-time starting point guard. He started every game he played that season. He was surrounded by All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. Rondo quickly became a key player, leading the team in assists and steals. He averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Rondo was chosen to play in the Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break. He also set a career-high with 16 assists in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Celtics had a huge improvement from the previous season. They finished as the top team in the Eastern Conference.

In the playoffs, Rondo made his debut on April 20, 2008. He helped the Celtics win their first series in seven games. They then defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. In the 2008 NBA Finals, the Celtics faced the Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo had strong performances, including 16 assists in Game 2. In Game 6, he recorded 6 steals. The Celtics won the series 4–2, giving Rondo his first NBA championship ring. Lakers coach Phil Jackson even called Rondo the "star" of Game 6.

Becoming a Star (2008–09)

Rondo in December 2008

In his third NBA season, the Celtics started with a great record. They also set a team record with a nineteen-game winning streak. Rondo's stats continued to improve. He recorded his first career triple-double against the Indiana Pacers. He had 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists.

He later recorded his second career triple-double against the Dallas Mavericks. He also scored a career-high 32 points against the Phoenix Suns on his 23rd birthday. Rondo finished the season ranking fifth in the NBA in both assists (8.2) and steals (1.9). The Celtics finished as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the Chicago Bulls. Rondo had a playoff career-high 29 points in Game 1. In Games 2 and 4, Rondo recorded triple-doubles. He became the first Celtics player since Larry Bird in 1986 to have two triple-doubles in the same series. In Game 6, he had a career-high 19 assists without any turnovers. This tied an NBA playoffs record. The Celtics were eventually defeated in the next round by the Orlando Magic. During the playoffs, Rondo nearly averaged a triple-double with 16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.

First All-Star Selection (2009–10)

During the 2009–10 NBA season, Rondo set new career highs in points (13.7), assists (9.8), and steals (2.3). He became the first Celtic to lead the league in steals. On November 2, 2009, Rondo signed a five-year contract extension with the Celtics.

On January 10, 2010, Rondo recorded his third regular season triple-double. He had 22 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. On January 28, 2010, he was selected for his first NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the Eastern Conference. He also broke Bob Cousy's Celtics record for most assists in a single season.

In the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Game 2 against Cleveland, Rondo had 19 assists, tying his career-high. In Game 4, he recorded his fourth postseason triple-double with 29 points and 18 rebounds. He joined Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to have such high numbers in a playoff game. The Celtics then beat the Orlando Magic to reach the Finals.

In the 2010 NBA Finals, the Celtics again faced the Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo recorded his second triple-double of the postseason in Game 2. However, the Celtics lost to the Lakers in seven games.

Rising Popularity (2010–11)

In the first game of the 2010–11 NBA season, Rondo had 17 assists. In the third game, he dished out a career-high 24 assists. He also had a triple-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. This tied him with Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to have at least 24 assists in a triple-double. His 50 assists in the first three games tied John Stockton's NBA record. He continued to set records for most assists in the first four and five games of a season.

Rondo dealt with some injuries during this season. He played through foot pain and missed games due to a hamstring strain and a sprained ankle. In the playoffs, he had another triple-double with 20 assists in a game against the New York Knicks. This set a Celtics franchise record for most assists in a playoff game. Rondo's jersey was the third best-selling in the league during this season.

All-NBA Selection (2011–12)

Rondo in December 2011

On February 21, 2012, Rondo was named an injury replacement for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. On March 4, he had 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists against the Knicks. He joined Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Jason Kidd as the only players to have at least 15 points, rebounds, and assists in the same game.

Rondo finished the regular season with 24 straight games of 10 or more assists. This was a Celtics record and the longest streak in the NBA since 1992. He had his sixth triple-double of the season in April.

In the 2012 playoffs, Rondo had three more triple-doubles. He joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics players to record a triple-double in a Game 7. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Rondo scored a career-high 44 points. He also had 8 rebounds and 10 assists. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rondo is the only player in NBA history with 44 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in a playoff game.

On June 6, 2012, Rondo passed Bob Cousy for having the most playoff games with 10 or more assists for the Celtics. He recorded another triple-double in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat. This was Rondo's tenth playoff triple-double, tying him with Larry Bird for third among NBA career leaders.

Season-Ending Injury (2012–13)

Rondo in January 2013

Rondo started the 2012–13 NBA season with his assist streak continuing. He reached 37 games with 10+ assists, matching John Stockton's long streak. Only Magic Johnson had a longer streak. The streak ended when he was ejected from a game against the Brooklyn Nets after a fight.

On January 27, 2013, Rondo tore his ACL during a game against the Miami Heat. This serious injury meant he would miss the rest of the season. Despite playing only 38 games, Rondo still led the NBA in assists for the season.

Return to Play (2013–14)

On January 15, 2014, Rondo was sent to the Maine Red Claws (a minor league team) for training. He was called back by the Celtics later that day.

On January 17, 2014, Rondo made his season debut with the Celtics. This was almost a year after his ACL injury. He played 19 minutes and had 8 points, 4 assists, and 2 rebounds. Upon his return, he was named the 15th captain in Boston Celtics history. On February 2, 2014, Rondo recorded his first double-double since his injury. On April 4, 2014, he recorded his first triple-double of the season.

Final Year in Boston (2014–15)

On September 26, 2014, Rondo had surgery to fix a broken left hand. He missed the entire preseason. Rondo returned for the first regular season game on October 29. He had 13 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. He continued to have strong assist and rebound numbers in the early part of the season. On December 17, in his final game as a Celtic, Rondo had 13 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks (2014–2015)

On December 18, 2014, Rondo was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He made his debut for the Mavericks two days later. In his return to Boston on January 2, 2015, Rondo scored a career-high 15 points in the first quarter. He finished with 29 points to lead Dallas to a victory.

However, Rondo struggled to fit in with the Mavericks' team system. He often disagreed with head coach Rick Carlisle. While there were no issues off the court, his lack of chemistry with teammates was clear. The Mavericks' offense also became less effective after he joined. In late April, Rondo and the Mavericks decided to part ways. Rondo was benched after Game 2 of their first-round playoff series and did not play again.

Sacramento Kings (2015–2016)

On July 13, 2015, Rondo signed a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. He made his debut on October 28, 2015. Two days later, he scored 21 points and had eight assists. On November 13, he recorded his third triple-double in four games, which was the 25th of his career. He had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists. He recorded his fourth triple-double of the season on November 18.

On November 23, he had 14 points and a season-high 20 assists. On November 27, he had 16 points and 16 assists without any turnovers. He was the first player since 1977–78 to achieve this.

In December, Rondo was suspended by the NBA for one game. This was due to inappropriate language he used towards a referee. Rondo later issued an apology.

On January 23, 2016, Rondo recorded his fifth triple-double of the season. Two days later, he had 20 assists and 10 rebounds. This meant he had 10 or more assists in 12 straight games, a Sacramento record. The streak eventually reached 14 games. On April 5, he recorded his sixth triple-double of the season with 27 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. This set a Kings franchise record for triple-doubles in a single season.

Chicago Bulls (2016–2017)

On July 7, 2016, Rondo signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. He made his debut on October 27 against his former team, the Boston Celtics. On December 2, he recorded his first triple-double of the season with 15 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds. Three days later, he was suspended by the Bulls for one game for team conduct.

Rondo's playing time changed throughout the season. He was sometimes removed from the starting lineup. On March 13, 2017, he scored a season-high 20 points. He later scored 24 points on March 21. On April 1, he had a season-high 25 points and 11 rebounds.

On April 21, Rondo broke his right thumb in Game 2 of the Bulls' first-round playoff series against the Celtics. He was ruled out indefinitely. The Bulls had been up 2–0 in the series with Rondo. Without him, they lost the next four games and were eliminated. On June 30, 2017, he was released by the Bulls.

New Orleans Pelicans (2017–2018)

On July 19, 2017, Rondo signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. On October 8, 2017, he was diagnosed with a sports hernia and had surgery. He missed four to six weeks. He made his debut for the Pelicans on November 13, 2017.

On December 27, 2017, Rondo set a franchise record with a career-high 25 assists in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. He became only the seventh player in NBA history to reach 25 assists in a game. On February 10, 2018, he recorded 25 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in a double overtime win.

In the Pelicans' last regular season game, Rondo had 19 points and 14 assists. In Game 1 of the playoffs, Rondo tied a franchise record with 17 assists. In Game 4, he had 16 assists as the Pelicans swept the Portland Trail Blazers. In the second round against the Golden State Warriors, Rondo had 21 assists in Game 3. The Pelicans were eliminated in five games.

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2020)

First Stint with the Lakers (2018–19)

On July 6, 2018, Rondo signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was expected to help mentor younger players. In his debut on October 18, Rondo had 13 points and 11 assists. Two days later, in a game against the Houston Rockets, Rondo was involved in a physical altercation. He received a three-game suspension.

After breaking his right hand on November 14, Rondo missed four to five weeks. He returned on December 21. On December 25, Rondo sprained his right ring finger. He had surgery and missed another four to five weeks. He returned to action on January 24, 2019.

On February 7, he made a game-winning shot against the Celtics in Boston. On March 4, Rondo recorded his 32nd career triple-double. He had a season-high 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. He became the second player to record a triple-double with five different teams. On March 29, he had 17 assists and five steals.

Second NBA Championship (2019–20)

On July 8, 2019, Rondo re-signed with the Lakers. He played a very important part in the team's 2020 NBA Finals series win. This was his first championship in 12 years. He became the second player in NBA history to win a championship with both the Boston Celtics and the Lakers.

Rondo's 105 assists in the 2020 NBA playoffs were the most by a bench player in a single postseason since 1971.

Atlanta Hawks (2020–2021)

On November 23, 2020, Rondo signed a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks. On December 28, 2020, Rondo made his Hawks debut. He had 12 points and eight assists in a win against the Detroit Pistons.

Los Angeles Clippers (2021)

On March 25, 2021, Rondo was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. On April 4, he made his debut against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 8, he recorded 15 points and nine assists, both season highs, coming off the bench.

On August 16, 2021, Rondo was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Twelve days later, he agreed to leave the team.

Return to the Lakers (2021–2022)

On August 31, 2021, Rondo signed a one-year deal to return to the Lakers.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2022)

On January 3, 2022, the Lakers traded Rondo to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made his debut for the Cavaliers on January 7. He had 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a win.

On April 2, 2024, Rondo officially announced his retirement from basketball.

Post-Playing Career

Before the 2024–25 NBA season, Rondo was invited by Doc Rivers to be a guest coach. Rivers was his former head coach with the Boston Celtics. Rondo joined the Milwaukee Bucks' training camp. Rivers said Rondo would be with the team part-time. Rondo is thinking about a future in coaching. However, he is mainly focused on training his own son as a basketball player.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2006–07	Boston	78	25	23.5	.418	.207	.647	3.7	3.8	1.6	.1	6.4
2007–08	Boston	77	77	29.9	.492	.263	.611	4.2	5.1	1.7	.2	10.6
2008–09	Boston	80	80	33.0	.505	.313	.642	5.2	8.2	1.9	.1	11.9
2009–10	Boston	81	81	36.6	.508	.213	.621	4.4	9.8	2.3*	.1	13.7
2010–11	Boston	68	68	37.2	.475	.233	.568	4.4	11.2	2.3	.2	10.6
2011–12	Boston	53	53	36.9	.448	.238	.597	4.8	11.7*	1.8	.1	11.9
2012–13	Boston	38	38	37.4	.484	.240	.645	5.6	11.1*	1.8	.2	13.7
2013–14	Boston	30	30	33.3	.403	.289	.627	5.5	9.8	1.3	.1	11.7
2014–15	Boston	22	22	31.8	.405	.250	.333	7.5	10.8	1.7	.1	8.3
	Dallas	46	46	28.7	.436	.352	.452	4.5	6.5	1.2	.1	9.3
2015–16	Sacramento	72	72	35.2	.454	.365	.580	6.0	11.7*	2.0	.1	11.9
2016–17	Chicago	69	42	26.7	.408	.376	.600	5.1	6.7	1.4	.2	7.8
2017–18	New Orleans	65	63	26.2	.468	.333	.543	4.0	8.2	1.1	.2	8.3
2018–19	L.A. Lakers	46	29	29.8	.405	.359	.639	5.3	8.0	1.2	.2	9.2
2019–20	L.A. Lakers	48	3	20.5	.418	.328	.659	3.0	5.0	.8	.0	7.1
2020–21	Atlanta	27	2	14.9	.400	.378	.500	2.0	3.5	.7	.1	3.9
	L.A. Clippers	18	1	20.4	.486	.432	1.000	3.1	5.8	1.0	.1	7.6
2021–22	L.A. Lakers	18	0	16.1	.324	.267	.500	2.7	3.7	.7	.3	3.1
	Cleveland	21	1	19.4	.429	.397	.750	2.8	4.9	.9	.0	6.2
Career		957	733	29.9	.456	.324	.611	4.5	7.9	1.6	.1	9.8
All-Star		3	0	18.7	.545	.000	.000	1.7	7.0	.3	.0	4.0

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008	Boston	26	26	32.0	.407	.250	.691	4.1	6.6	1.7	.3	10.2
2009	Boston	14	14	41.2	.417	.250	.657	9.7	9.8	2.5	.2	16.9
2010	Boston	24	24	40.6	.463	.375	.596	5.6	9.3	1.9	.1	15.8
2011	Boston	9	9	38.3	.477	.000	.632	5.4	9.6	1.1	.0	14.0
2012	Boston	19	19	42.6	.468	.267	.696	6.7	11.9	2.4	.1	17.3
2015	Dallas	2	2	18.6	.450	.500	.000	1.0	3.0	.0	.0	9.5
2017	Chicago	2	2	33.7	.423	.000	.500	8.5	10.0	3.5	.5	11.5
2018	New Orleans	9	9	33.6	.413	.421	.643	7.6	12.2	1.4	.2	10.3
2020	L.A. Lakers	16	0	24.7	.455	.400	.684	4.3	6.6	1.4	.1	8.9
2021	L.A. Clippers	13	0	16.9	.340	.393	.667	2.6	3.8	.4	.2	4.2
Career		134	105	34.0	.440	.330	.649	5.6	8.5	1.7	.2	12.5

College

Awards and Honors

Rondo during the Celtics' 2008 championship parade

• 2-time NBA champion: 2008, 2020
• 4-time NBA All-Star: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• All-NBA Team:
  • Third Team: 2012
• 4-time NBA All-Defensive:
  • First Team: 2010, 2011
  • Second Team: 2009, 2012
• NBA All-Rookie selection:
  • Second team: 2007

Records

NBA Regular Season:

• 2010: Most steals (189), most steals per game (2.3)
• 2012: Most assists per game (11.7), most triple-doubles (6)
• 2013: Most assists per game (11.1), most triple-doubles (5)
• 2016: Most assists per game (11.7), most assists (839)

NBA Playoffs:

• 2008: Most assists (172), most steals (45)
• 2009: Most assists (127), most triple-doubles (3)
• 2010: Most triple-doubles (2), most steals (46)
• 2011: Most triple-doubles (1)
• 2012: Most assists (227), most assists per game (11.9), most triple-doubles (4)

Boston Celtics:

• Most assists in a single season: 794 (2009–10)
• Most steals in a single season: 189 (2009–10)
• Most assists in a playoff game: 20 (2010–11)
• Most assists per game (season): 11.7 (2011–12)

New Orleans Pelicans:

• Most assists in a game: 25 (2017–18)
• Most assists in a playoff game: 21 (2017–18)

See also

In Spanish: Rajon Rondo para niños

• List of NBA annual steals leaders
• List of NBA annual assists leaders
• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career triple-double leaders
• List of NBA career playoff assists leaders
• List of NBA career playoff steals leaders
• List of NBA career playoff triple-double leaders
• List of NBA single-game assists leaders