Rajon Rondo officially announces NBA retirement

Prime years with the Celtics

Rajon Rondo’s best years in the NBA were undeniably spent with that team that selected him 21st overall in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft — the Celtics.

Rondo spent his first eight and a half seasons in the NBA wearing Boston threads and during his time with the Celtics, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.5 assists across 527 games. With Boston, Rondo earned four NBA All-Star nods as the court general of the star-laden Celtics teams that also featured the trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

In 2008, Rondo played a pivotal role in the Celtics winning the franchise’s first NBA title since 1986.

As an NBA journeyman and second NBA title with the Lakers

After his stint with the Celtics in 2014 when he was traded by Boston to the Dallas Mavericks, Rondo went to play for several teams in the NBA. Apart from the Mavs, the former Kentucky Wildcats star suited up for the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, the Lakers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although he never achieved the level of individual success again that he had with the Celtics, Rajon Rondo would find himself kissing the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the second time in his memorable NBA career in 2020 when he won it with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rajon Rondo’s final NBA season

Before announcing his retirement, Rondo was last seen playing in the NBA during the 2021-22 NBA season with the Cavaliers. He played 21 games for the Cavs and averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 19.5 minutes per outing. Rondo actually started that season with the Los Angeles Lakers before the Purple & Gold franchise traded him to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade involving the New York Knicks.

He went unsigned in the 2022-23 NBA campaign, leading many to believe that he had already played his final game in the pros. However, because he had not really announced his retirement at the time, the door was always open for a potential return to the court by the two-time NBA champion.

Fans react to Rondo’s retirement

“One of the last of the traditional pass-first PGs,” said @Najeero. Indeed, Rondo excelled and enjoyed more being a distributor of the ball on the court than creating shots of his own.

“Congratulations on an amazing, successful career! Excited to see what’s next for Rondo,” posted@WittyCollector.

“Will definitely gonna miss him seeing on the court,” shared @viniciusfdea.

From @ISLANDBETS: “Happy retirement to my favorite Celtics player ever, Rajon Rondo

The guy who made me fall in love with the game and with the Celtics. what a joy it was to watch you, GOAT.

”

Via Josh Eberley: “I was never a Rajon Rondo fan but that guy evolved in the 2012 playoffs. He really looked like he might hit best PG in the league contention before the ACL tear. Everyone knows he was smart as hell but his behind the back fake to layup combo was also just a killer highlight.”