Rajon Rondo won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. On Sunday, he played against them, this time as a member of the Clippers.
While the Lakers didn’t have injured stars LeBron James or Anthony Davis, as has often been the case lately, Rondo and the Clippers had their way in a 104-86 blowout win. And the reviews of Rondo were great.
“You can just tell, his pace brings a different something to our team,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters. “And offensively, when he gets an outlet close to halfcourt, before the first pass is made, that generates pace for us. And we need that. It’s going to be good for us in the long run, just good to see him out there just trying to get acclimated to what we are trying to do.”
Rondo finished with two points, three assists and two steals. Hardly the numbers that will earn him the label of major difference-maker.
But as has always been the case with the veteran point guard, it goes way beyond the box score.
“I’ve never heard anything bad about Rondo as far as a teammate and a guy that plays the game,” said Clippers forward Morris, adding that twin bother Markiieff Morris played with Rondo last year with the Lakers. “My brother had nothing but good things to say about him as a teammate, so we’re just excited to get him and I think he’s really going to be a big factor in us trying to hang that banner.”
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