Rajon Rondo: April 2012

Friday, April 20, 2012

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)

Bio Reflection

This was a big step for Rondo to me. It was a great success. Rondo proved his worth nationally at Oak Hill. He scored 55 points in one game, had 27 assists in another. By the time he was done, he was a McDonald's All-American. But before that, he'd pledged to become a Kentucky Wildcat.Rondo's closeness with his mom, Amber, and three siblings dictated that he stay close to home. Given that, his Oak Hill coach made calls to most of the pre-eminent schools within an easy drive from Louisville -- Cincinnati, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky. Of that group, there wasn't a lot of initial interest. The one local school Rondo crossed off his list was the hometown school. He became committed to the game of basketball. He took his skills to the next level. Today he is an even better player. Has some of the gratest stats in Basketball History. Still he strives for more by playing hard to be the best.

College Pt. 2

-In his sophomore year he had a career high 12 assists against Ole Miss, despite playing just 23 minutes, and 25 points against Louisville. Rondo also set another Kentucky Wildcats record for most rebounds in a game by a guard, with 19 rebounds in an early season loss to Iowa. He was not known for being a shooter, however, going 18–66 from three with a 57.1% FT average. He averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in his sophomore year. Rondo was also named to the 2005 USA Men's Under-21 World Championship Team, which traveled to Argentina for the FIBA World Championships. He averaged 11.0 ppg and 4.5 apg in the eight-game tournament, garnering much attention from NBA scouts. The USA U-21 team won a gold medal at the Global Games held in Texas in late July. Led the SEC in assists (4.9 APG) and ranked second in steals (2.0 spg), while averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds…Scored in double figures 17 times and had five games of 10 or more rebounds… Recorded career-high 25 points on 7-for-12 shooting and dished out seven assists vs. Louisville… Tallied 21 points and nine rebounds vs. Indiana…Posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. West Virginia…Pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds vs. Iowa, the highest total ever by a Kentucky guard…Dished out a career-high 12 assists with zero turnovers vs. Ole Miss…Notched 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists vs. Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament… 2004-05: Named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team…Set Kentucky single-season record for steals with 87 swipes…Had at least one steal in each game…Tied Kentucky’s single-game record with eight steals, in just 20 minutes, vs. Mississippi State…Scored double figures in his first three NCAA Tourney games…Handed out a season-high eight assists with no turnovers at Vanderbilt.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajon_Rondo)

Bio Pt. 2

• Eastern High School..: After Rondo became serious about basketball, he attended Louisville's Eastern High School for three years where he played under head coach Doug Bibby. During his junior year at Eastern High School, he averaged 27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists which earned him a spot on the All-State honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year. He transferred to Virginia's Oak Hill Academy for his senior year where he averaged 21.0 points per game (ppg), 3.0 rebounds per game (rpg) and 12.0 assists per game (apg) and finished the 2003–04 season with a 38–0 record. Born on February 22, 1986, Rajon Rondo would grow up to dazzle the state of Kentucky with his explosive basketball talent. Rajon Rondo played three years of high school basketball at Louisville Eastern High School. In his junior year, Rajon Rondo averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds, and over seven assists per game. For his senior year, Rajon Rondo transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and went on to average 21 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds. During one game, Rajon Rondo dished out an unheard of 31 assists, one of the best assists stats in high-school basketball history! (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/news/story?page=Rondo-Chapter2)

Bio Pt. 3

• Oak Hill Academy..: In his senior year at Oak Hill Academy, Rondo broke Jeff McInnis's single-season school record of 303 assists, while averaging a double-double. There, he included two efforts of assists leader in a single season with 494 assists, surpassing Jeff McInnis. 27 assists and a single-game school record of 31, merely four away from the all-time national record. He also had a 55 point game in high-school, second highest all-time in Oak Hill Academy, surpassed only by Calvin Duncan with 61. Rondo was named to the McDonald's All-American Team in 2004 and scored a total of 14 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in the all-star game. He also participated in the 2004 Jordan Capital Classic game, logging 12 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. He ended his career as Oak Hill Academy's all-time.Rondo proved his worth nationally at Oak Hill. He scored 55 points in one game, had 27 assists in another. By the time he was done, he was a McDonald's All-American. But before that, he'd pledged to become a Kentucky Wildcat. Rondo's closeness with his mom, Amber, and three siblings dictated that he stay close to home. Given that, his Oak Hill coach made calls to most of the pre-eminent schools within an easy drive from Louisville -- Cincinnati, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky. Of that group, there wasn't a lot of initial interest. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/news/story?page=Rondo-Chapter2)

College Pt. 1

-Rondo committed to University of Kentucky over hometown University of Louisville. Rondo, along with All-Americans Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris, gave Kentucky the top-rated recruiting class for 2004 according to Rivals.com. Rondo led Kentucky to several wins including clutch-shot victories against the University of Louisville, South Carolina and Central Florida, but Kentucky failed to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in either Rondo's freshman or sophomore seasons. He was named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team. He set a Kentucky Wildcats record for most steals in single-season, with a total of 87 steals in his freshman year and made at least one steal in every game. He finished his freshman year at Kentucky averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajon_Rondo)

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Bio Pt. 1

• Childhood..1: Rondo was born on February 22, 1986 in Louisville, Kentucky to Amber Rondo. He has three siblings: Dymon, William and Anton. He had little contact with his father, who left his family when he was seven years old. To support the family, his mother worked the third shift at Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company. Rondo was first interested in football, before his mother steered him towards basketball because she felt that the sport would be less punishing on his skinny frame. The Rondo Family also known as the Rajon Rondo's family is a clan of basketball players, housewives, and children. It's consits of Rajon Rondo,Ashley Bachelor,Ryelle Rondo,Amber Rondo, William Rondo,Anton Rondo, and Dymon Rondo.They are known to be very loyal to each other.Rajon is the starting point guard of the Boston Celtics, his sister Dymon Rondo is a guard at Olney College. His two brothers William and Anton are artists in recording studios. His wife Ashley is a house wife and she weas a basketball in college. His mother Amber is also a house wife. Amber gave birth to all four of them in Louisville, Kentucky. She had to work the third shift at Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company They had little contact with their father, who left them family when William was twelve years old, Anton was eight years old, Rajon was seven years old,and Dymon was four years old. Rajon Rondo was first interested in football, before his mother steered him towards basketball because she felt that the sport would be less punishing on his skinny frame. (wikia.com/wiki/Rondo_Family)

Rajon Rondo turned the right way, made the right choices. Enough right turns and right choices to avoid the plentiful pitfalls of his surroundings, and to write his own remarkable chapter in the sporting history of his hometown. He might not be the Greatest of All Time, but he's the latest greatest -- even if almost nobody saw it coming. The only basketball goal in College Court resided in Amber Rondo's backyard. She paid for it with the money she earned working at the Phillip Morris tobacco plant. The single mother wanted it because it would keep her four children close to home instead of roaming a risky area.House rules also dictated that when the streetlights flickered on, the Rondo children must be home. The front porch became a board-game battleground -- Connect Four, Monopoly, Battleship, you name it.Whenever he lost, Rajon demanded rematch after rematch after rematch until he won.Family, friends and faith helped keep Rajon Rondo on the porch and off the streets. The Rondos attended services at Little Flock Baptist Church and received plenty of oversight and guidance from aunts, uncles, neighbors and coaches at every turn.Will was a football player who ultimately earned a full ride to Murray State. Rajon, five years younger, started down that path, as well -- a quarterback in football, a pitcher in baseball and a point guard in basketball. He liked being in charge.But the painfully skinny kid wasn't built to take the knocks of the football field. Eventually, he found his true calling in the gym.His huge hands and long arms, coupled with startling speed and leaping ability, gave him an advantage over his less athletic peers. Then his knowledge of the game and his craving to master it separated him.The only thing that could hold him back was himself. Doug Bibby was first.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Sports Science

Monday, April 16, 2012

Website...

WishList Member. "Rajon Rondo - The official website of Rajon Rondo : Rajon Rondo." 16 December 2011. Rajon Rondo Official Website. http://rajonrondo.com/. 30 March 2012.

Newspaper...

Sports, Rant. "Rajon Rondo Rumors, Gossip & News/ Yardbarker.com." 10 April 2012. www.yardbarker.com. http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/players/rajon_rondo/4696. 11 April 2012.

Online-Journal...

Press, Associated. "NBA Notebook/ Rajon Rondo, Celtics pound Heat/ The Courier-Journal/ courier-journal.com." 1 April 2012. www.courier-journal.com. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120401/SPORTS/304010072/NBA-Notebook-Rajon-Rondo-Celtics-pound-Heat. 4 April 2012.

Rajon Rondo