Rondo, 38, was a first-round draft pick out of Kentucky by the Phoenix Suns in 2006. Later that night he was dealt to Brian Grant and the Boston Celtics.
Rondo played parts of nine seasons with the Celtics, winning his first NBA championship, becoming a four-time All-Star, twice being named to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams and leading the league in steals in 2010. After his rookie season, he averaged double-digit points per game as he became a roster regular.
Rondo was traded from Boston to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2014, but his time there ended that season due to disagreements with head coach Rick Carlisle and strained relations with teammates. It was bad enough that Rondo was reportedly left out of the players' playoff allotment.
Rondo spent the next three seasons with three different teams - the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans - before joining the Los Angeles Lakers and helping them win the 2020 NBA championship. He averaged 8.9 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds off the bench en route to his second career championship.
Rondo last played for the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers in 2022, the Lakers once again and finally the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022.
Rondo told Barnes and Jackson that he went back to school as a full-time student at the University of Kentucky, taking a mix of online and in-person classes. He left college early in 2006 to enter the NBA Draft and is currently completing his education while coaching his 12-year-old son.
