A championship is arguably the greatest metric for prompting team continuity. The Celtics are making a huge dent in their wallets to keep the roster together; the Warriors put together a dynasty, and so did most title-winning teams. But the 2020 Lakers, who won in the ‘Orlando Bubble,’ decided to completely shift their infrastructure. It didn’t pay off, and former players have since voiced their disappointment at not having the same contingent rerun it.

Dwight Howard was among the first to feel the team had a chance to do something special. “We still had the squad and we could have run it back,” said the three-time DPOY. JaVale McGee followed, declaring “overthinking” to be the reason for their break up. But how does a player who hopes to become a coach view the team?

Let’s ask Rajon Rondo, who is considered one of the players with elite creation and innate acumen.

The playmaker had the chance to sit in coaching meetings while rehabbing from a broken thumb. It helped him realize his desire to coach further. But it also sheds light on the truth about the 2020 Lakers. “No, I definitely don’t think it capped there. I mean you win a championship, you feel like you have the blueprint and you got to run it to see if anybody has figured it out before you,” he told Draymond Green.

“I said we were able to adjust, we’ve been through seven-game series, we’ve been battle tested so you know so I think we already hit the button next year and figure out how to win it again,” Rondo opined on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.

In terms of sentiments, the Lakers front office also kicked themselves for what Rob Pelinka called a failed “risk.” The Lakers were a top-10 defense. Furthermore, with the depth of the roster, they also had several rotations at their disposal. However, the front office felt that due to a large number of veterans, it might be time to bring back a younger team to hopefully preserve the window.

Little did they know, 2020 remains the last time LA even got to an NBA Final.

Rajon Rondo wants to emulate Lakers’ JJ Redick

Just IQ isn’t enough for a player to gravitate toward coaching. The X’s and O’s have to appeal to even begin thinking about it. It did with JJ Redick for a long time as he immersed himself in plays. Rajon Rondo is the same. Considered a ‘genius’ by his peers, in the summer, he got to work with his former coach, Dov Rivers.

“The one thing I can tell you just through training camp that he spent, he’s hooked now, he loves it,” said the Bucks coach about his former point guard. The franchise ace, Giannis Antetokounmpo, also appreciated the Celtics legend’s insights into Milwaukee’s training camp. But unlike Redick, Rajon Rondo has a reason to wait.

“I just want to be there for my daughter’s senior year. You know all the proms, the homecoming, she loves those parties. So I got to be here,” he told Green with a satisfactory smile.

But once that’s done, he doesn’t even have any doubts. Rondo is “1000%” looking to learn the requirements of being an NBA coach. The two-time champion has done it with his son’s AAU team. Yet, he understands that it takes a lot more wisdom and experience to be productive at a higher level.

Given his decision-making on the floor and the depth of understanding the game, it shouldn’t be long before Rondo is on the sidelines calling plays. But do you think the former Laker will be successful? Let us know your views in the comments below.