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[Saba Sports News] Rajon Rondo has retired after a distinguished 16-season NBA career, during which he secured two championship titles, with his most recent victory in 2020 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers alongside LeBron James. Post the Lakers’ recent win over the Raptors, LeBron shared his thoughts on Rondo’s retirement, praising him as one of the finest players he’s had the privilege of playing with. He lauded Rondo’s exceptional basketball IQ and expressed how fortunate he felt to have teamed up with him in LA, a partnership they both believed could lead to a championship—a belief that materialized.
“One of the best players I ever played with. His IQ is out of this world. I was very lucky to get to team up with him when I was in LA. Being in LA, him coming to the Lakers, I was ecstatic about that and I knew what we’d accomplish together. ‘Do always talked about if he ever teamed up with me, he knew we could win a championship. And we did that.”
LeBron reminisced about the intense competitions against Rondo when the latter was with the Boston Celtics, and LeBron was playing for Cleveland and later Miami. He admired Rondo’s competitive spirit and highlighted his remarkable career achievements, including multiple All-Star appearances, leading the league in assists several times, and his role in winning championships with both the Lakers and the Celtics.
“He was a fierce competitor throughout my career when he was in Boston. You know the battles we had when I was in Cleveland and then going to Miami. He got everything out of his career and more. Two-time champion, multiple All-Stars, and for a couple of years, he led the league in assists or was up there. Spectacular player.”
During their tenure together with the Lakers, LeBron and Rondo appeared in 88 regular season games, with Rondo averaging 7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. These figures contributed to Rondo retiring with career averages of 9.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. Their shared high basketball IQ and past rivalry only deepened their respect for each other, culminating in a successful partnership that contributed significantly to their careers and the Lakers’ championship legacy.