Boston Celtics 2008 Champion Rajon Rondo announces retirement

On Monday Rajon Rondo revealed that he’s formally retiring from the NBA on the All of the Smoke Productions present. The 4x All-Star and 2x NBA Champion was probably the most thrilling playmakers within the NBA throughout his 16-year profession.

Rondo was drafted twenty first total within the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns out of the College of Kentucky earlier than being traded on the identical day to the Boston Celtics. In his rookie season, taking part in predominantly as a backup to Sebastian Telfair, Rondo averaged 6.4 factors and three.8 assists and was recognized for his defensive instincts. Rondo can be named to the All-Rookies second staff.

It was the following yr when Rondo actually burst out after the Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to pair with Paul Pierce to type the Massive Three in Boston. Within the offers to carry KG and Allen to Boston, the Celtics parted methods with Delonte West and Telfair opening a beginning spot for Rondo.

With a star-studded roster, Rondo led the offense together with his playmaking skill whereas additionally being a pest on protection main the staff in steals and assists. Rondo was a spotlight machine together with his no-look passes, the pretend behind-the-back cross, and the artistic finishes across the rim.

Within the 2008 Finals, Rondo averaged 9.3 factors, 6.7 assists, and three.8 to assist carry Banner 17 to Boston.

In his remaining time in inexperienced and white, Rondo continued to be among the finest passers within the NBA. Rondo went 37 straight video games with 10+ assists per sport, which ended towards the Brooklyn Nets when Kris Humphries and Rondo obtained right into a combat after a foul.

The Celtics traded Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks within the 2014-15 season, the place he performed out the rest of a five-year, $55 million contract he’d signed in 2010.

The veteran guard turned an NBA journeyman, spending the following seven years with eight groups. For a lot of that interval, he remained a useful, productive chief on the ground. However he struggled each within the enviornment and outdoors it.

In 2015, taking part in on a one-year take care of the Sacramento Kings, Rondo was suspended one sport by the NBA after calling NBA referee Invoice Kennedy a homophobic slur in response to a MassLive report. After this encounter, Kennedy got here out revealing he was homosexual.

Rondo moved on to hitch the Chicago Bulls for the 2016-17 season alongside Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, a trio the purpose guard self-styled as “the three alphas”. The Bulls waived Rondo on the finish of June 2017, shortly after buying and selling away Butler.

The New Orleans Pelicans had been subsequent, one other productive, if temporary, cease.

Ultimately, Rondo signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and was an integral a part of LA’s title run within the 2019-2020 season that completed within the Orlando bubble.

Over the course of the following two seasons, the two-time champ logged video games with the Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Clippers, returned to the Lakers, and landed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Though his skill on the court docket couldn’t be questioned, off the court docket Rondo had his justifiable share of points with the legislation.

In Could of 2022, in response to an ESPN article, a girl filed for an “emergency protecting order” towards Rondo in Louisville, Kentucky. The lady alleged that the guard threatened her with a gun.

The lady alleges that Rondo mentioned to her “you’re useless” earlier than leaving the home, solely to return shortly thereafter, this time with a gun and demanding to see one of many kids. The lady mentioned she grew afraid of the state of affairs, so she introduced the kid downstairs, and Rondo pulled the kid outdoors, allegedly whereas nonetheless holding the gun, whereas he yelled at him. He then demanded to see the opposite little one, too, and he or she additionally got here outdoors, as Rondo yelled at each of them for being afraid of him, the lady alleged.

The order was granted and Rondo needed to keep a minimum of “a minimum of 500 ft away from the lady and the kids, and should quickly give up any firearms to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Workplace.”

ESPN then reported in June that the protecting order was dismissed after the events reached an settlement.

The authorized points didn’t cease there for Rondo. Earlier this yr, the previous Wildcat was arrested on gun and marijuana expenses in Indiana. Rondo was stopped for a visitors violation the place a police officer “smelled marijuana” which led to a search of the automotive the place they discovered a gun that was unlawfully possessed.

Though paramount in his efforts to carry Boston and LA a championship, Rondo just isn’t one with out his faults. A 16-year profession full of highlights and fond reminiscences for followers is hindered by incidents each on and off the court docket.

Rondo will likely be remembered in Boston as a cussed guard who at his peak was among the finest guards within the league. Except for the off court docket points, quantity 9 will at all times be celebrated when followers suppose again in regards to the ‘08 season.