Rajon Rondo, an American professional basketball player, rose to fame as the leader of the Boston Celtics during their NBA championship win in 2008. Despite starting as the team’s third-string point guard, Rondo proved his worth and earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. His on-field brilliance and dedication made the Celtics one of the most formidable teams in the NBA. Rondo’s passion for sports began in his childhood, initially focusing on football and baseball before shifting his focus to basketball. He excelled in high school and college, leading his teams to victories and setting records along the way. Currently playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Rondo continues to showcase his skills and contribute to the game.
Quick Facts
- Nick Name: Johnny
- Also Known As: Rajon Pierre Rondo
- Age: 37 Years, 37 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Ashley Bachelor
- Father: William Rondo
- Mother: Amber Rondo
- Siblings: Anton Rondo, Dymon Rondo, William Rondo
- Children: Ryelle Rondo
- Born Country: United States
- Quotes By Rajon Rondo
- Basketball Players
- Height: 6’1″ (185 cm), 6’1″ Males
- U.S. State: Kentucky
- City: Louisville, Kentucky
- Notable Alumni: University Of Kentucky
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Kentucky
- Awards: NBA All-Defensive Team
Childhood & Early Life
Rajon Rondo was born on 22 February 1986, in Louisville, Kentucky to Amber Rondo and William Sr. He has three siblings. His father left the family when Rajon was just seven years old, leaving his mother to fend for herself and the children. His mother, a very determined woman, toiled hard to raise the children single-handedly.
He was a skinny child though he developed an interest in playing a variety of sports like football, baseball, and basketball.
He went to the Eastern High School for three years and during this time he became serious about basketball. He proved to be a great asset to his school’s team and earned a spot on the All-State honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year.
He then transferred to Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy for his senior year where he broke Jeff McInnis’s single-season school record of 303 assists, while averaging a double-double.
After completing his high school education he enrolled at the University of Kentucky. There he, along with team mates Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris, played a major role in the college team’s several victories. He finished his freshman year at Kentucky averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals.
Rondo was also named to the 2005 USA Men’s Under-21 World Championship Team, and helped the team win a gold medal at the Global Games held in Texas in late July.
Career
Rajon Rondo was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft and traded to the Boston Celtics. He was the first point guard to be chosen in the draft.
He started out playing a supporting role during the initial phase of his career. In his rookie season he played in only 25 matches and finally made his NBA regular season debut on November 1, 2006, in a home loss against the New Orleans Hornets and finished the season with an average of 6.4 points per game (ppg) and 3.8 assists per game (apg).
He made his playoff debut on 20 April 2008 against the Atlanta Hawks and finished the game with 15 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. The same year, he gave strong performances in the NBA championship finals in which the Celtics faced the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 6, he posted a playoffs career-high 6 steals as the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2.
During the 2008–09 NBA season, Rajon Rando recorded his first career triple-double along with a career-high in assists (16 points, 13 rebounds and 17 assists), while playing against the Indiana Pacers.
The 2009–10 season was a memorable one for him as he became the first Celtic to lead the league in steals after he achieved career high averages in points (13.7), assists (9.8) and steals (2.3). The same year, he signed a five-year extension with the Celtics, worth a guaranteed $55 million.
After injuries interfered with his game in the 2010–11 season, he returned with a vengeance the following season to score 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists against the Knicks in March 2012. He scored a career high of 44 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in a playoff game in the Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals in this season.
His successful streak continued during the 2012–13 season and he recorded 37 games with 10+ assists. In spite of an injury that forced him to miss several games, he still led the NBA in assists in the season.
He was traded along with Dwight Powell, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, and Brandan Wright in December 2014, and made his debut for the Mavericks against the San Antonio Spurs.
Awards & Achievements
Rajon Rondo was named to the NBA All-Star team for four consecutive years (2010–2013).
In 2012, he was named to the All-NBA Team, an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season.
Personal Life & Legacy
He maintains close relations with his mother and siblings, and is married to Ashley Bachelor whom he met while attending college at the University of Kentucky. The couple has two children.
Trivia
He launched the Rajon Rondo Foundation in 2011 to help children from under-privileged backgrounds. He also runs an annual summer camp for youth basketball players.