Awards & Honors

* 1× NBA Champion: 2008 * 3× NBA All-Star: 2010, 2011, 2012 [86] * 3× NBA All-Defensive: * First Team: 2010, 2011 * Second Team: 2009 * NBA All-Rookie selection: * Second team: 2007 * NBA regular season leader: * steals: 2010 (189) * steals per game: 2010 (2.3) * Boston Celtics franchise records: * 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

NBA Reflection

His NBA Career is going great so far to me. Drafted 21st overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Rondo was then traded to the Boston Celtics, where he has become an integral factor in the Celtics’ success. Rondo found his rhythm amongst his three veteran teammates during the 2007-08 season and helped the Celtics capture an NBA World Championship. The future is bright for a player such as Rajon, and with success on the court he is sure to be a perennial All Star and premier point guard in the NBA for many years to come. In 2011, Rondo launched the Rajon Rondo Foundation to provide children living in low-income areas with safe, reliable resources and hope for the future.

NBA Pt. 3

In the first game of the 2010–11 season, Rondo put up 17 assists, which tied with Oscar Robertson for the third-most assists in a season opener. In the third game of the season, he dished out a career-high 24 assists along with a triple-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) against the New York Knicks. It tied him with Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to have at least 24 assists in a triple-double. His total of 50 assists through the first three games of the season tied John Stockton's NBA record for most assists in the first 3 games of the season. In the next game against the Detroit Pistons, he finished the game with 17 assists for a total of 67 assists, which is the most assists in the teams first four games in NBA history. With a 15 assists effort the following day, Rondo again set a record for most assists through the first five games. Rondo's season also began with injuries. He has played through plantar fasciitis in his feet. He missed three games in November due to a strained left hamstring. He sprained his left ankle in a win against the New York Knicks on December 15, 2010, and missed the next seven games. On April 22, in the third game of the first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Rondo had a triple-double with 20 assists. Rondo set a Celtics franchise record for most assists in a playoff game. He was also tied with LeBron James with 6 career triple-double in the playoffs until James had reached his seventh further on in the playoffs during Game 4 of the Finals. Rondo had the third best selling jersey in the league during the 2010-11 season, behind only James and Kobe Bryant. 2011–12 seasonOn February 21, 2012, Rondo was named an injury replacement for Joe Johnson on the Eastern Conference roster at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. With 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists against the Knicks on March 4, 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. In a win against the Heat on April 1, Rondo registered another triple-double (16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds). His streak of at least 10 assists in 21 straight games was the longest streak since 1992, joining Stockton and Magic Johnson as the only players with at least 10 assists in 20 straight games in a single season. He posted his sixth triple-double of the season (with 20 assists) in a win against the Hawks on April 11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajon_Rondo#2007.E2.80.9308_season

NBA Pt. 2

After Telfair and West were traded during the offseason of the 2007–08 season, Rondo secured a spot in the starting lineup, starting in every game. Surrounded by All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, he quickly became a steady, consistent player. In his 77 games played, he averaged 10.6 points per game (ppg), 5.1 assists per game (apg) and 4.2 rebounds per game (rpg). His role as a playmaker reflected in him leading the team in assists and steals. In a game against the New Jersey Nets, Rondo suffered a lower back injury late in the third quarter, forcing him to miss the next four games. He made his successful return from injury and to the starting lineup in a road win against the New York Knicks. A week later, he matched his career-high against the Miami Heat, and then scored a career-high 24 points in a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers the following month. During the All-Star break, he was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam. Following the All-Star weekend, Rondo recorded a career-high 16 assists in a home victory against the Charlotte Bobcats. Despite his solid rookie year, there was much speculation about Boston needing a veteran point guard. In March, they signed veteran point guard Sam Cassell as a free agent to serve as a backup. The Celtics' best single-season improvement in NBA history earned them the number one seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Following the regular season, Rondo finished in the top five for the NBA Most Improved Player voting. Rondo made his playoff debut on April 20, 2008 against the Atlanta Hawks and finished the game with 15 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. The Celtics closed out the series in seven games, went on to defeat Cleveland in the next round, and then defeated the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, facing the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo recorded two strong performances, including a career-high 16 assists in Game 2. In Game 3, however, Rondo left the court in the third quarter after rolling his ankle. The ankle injury was considered a "non-factor", and Rondo eventually made his return in Game 4. In Game 6, the point guard posted a playoffs career-high 6 steals as the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2, giving Rondo his first NBA championship ring. After the game Lakers head coach Phil Jackson called Rondo the "star" of Game 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajon_Rondo#2007.E2.80.9308_season

NBA Pt. 1

During his rookie season in the NBA, Rondo played a supporting role and would split time with Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West. Rondo only started in 25 games that season due to his initial backup role to Telfair. He made his NBA regular season debut on November 1, 2006, in a home loss against the New Orleans Hornets.[20] In his rookie season, he lacked on his jump shot which resulted in him slashing to the basket for a teardrop or layup. While coming off the bench, he managed to score a career-high 23 points against the Toronto Raptors,[3] and record his first career double-double in a road losing effort against the Washington Wizards.[21] In his first career start, he matched his career-high against the Los Angeles Clippers, though the line-ups were constantly being shuffled between Telfair and Rondo at the point guard.[3] After officially becoming a starter, he began to receive more playing time (career-high forty-seven minutes of playing time)[3] and show improvement (career-high fourteen rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs,[22] and a career-high seven steals against the Indiana Pacers).[3] As the mid-season approached, his numbers began to increase,[23] which earned him an All-Rookie Second Team selection.[24] He finished the season with an average of 6.4 ppg and 3.8 apg,[25] ranking in the top ten in the NBA in steals (128)[26] and also ranking in the top ten among rookies in several other categories, including first in steals, second in assists and sixth in minutes.[23] In the end, however, the Celtics finished the season with a 24–58 win-loss record and failed to qualify for the playoffs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajon_Rondo#2007.E2.80.9308_season

College Reflection

Rondo had a great college career. Even though he decided to forgo his junior and senior years and enter the NBA Draft. It was a great decision to me.Deviating from our usual Rookie Retrospectives, we’ll be taking a look at a player from the 2006 draft class who has blossomed into one of the League’s top young point guards—and see how we can apply the lessons we’ve learned to this year’s draft class. Rajon Rondo was originally tabbed by the Phoenix Suns with the 21st overall pick before being shipped to Boston along with Brian Grant for a draft pick. A prospect with unique tools, Rondo was projected by many as more of a defensive stopper who could provide some value as a passer. Three years into his career, he’s already been a starter on a Championship team and has become a star in his own right behind three probable Hall of Famers. From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz1sbvO5TI3 http://www.draftexpress.com

College Pt. 3

Rajon Rondo: Entering the NBA Draft After the 2005-06 NCAA basketball season, Rajon Rondo decided to forgo his junior and senior years with the Kentucky Wildcats. As the quickest guard in the 2006 NBA draft, Rajon Rondo turned a lot of heads as teams salivated at Rajon Rondo’s knack for steals and ability to rebound. The Phoenix Suns drafted Rajon Rondo with the 21st pick before dealing Rajon Rondo to the Boston Celtics that same day. Rajon Rondo was quickly traded to the Celtics. He didn't start, but he was a back-up point guard. He only started 25 games during his first season. Ready to make some noise in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics traded youth for experience in the 2007 NBA offseason. Boston Celtics tickets would no longer feature Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak, both of whom were dealt to the Seattle Super Sonics in exchange for Ray Allen. Then, the Boston Celtics’ young core – Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, and Sebastian Telfair – along with Theo Ratliff were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett. After a summer of shuffling and blockbuster trades, fans with Boston Celtics tickets were glad to see that Rajon Rondo was one of the young kids left on the Boston Celtics roster. (http://www.onlinetickets.com/info/sports_nba/boston_celtics/rajon_rondo_bio.html)