Fans Get Divided as Rajon Rondo’s Potential Lakers Recruitment Raises More Questions

The “JJ Redick as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach” debate has not even settled and there is yet another name gaining media attention. However, the name is not in the race for the position of head coach but for the Lakers coaching staff. Nevertheless, the question that has come up now is — will Rajon Rondo in the Lakers’ coaching staff be a good addition to the team? Well, the fans surely seem to have mixed opinions on the recent update by the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike.

Bleacher Report recently shared the update by Woike to its official account on X. “Lakers are considering adding Rajon Rondo to their coaching staff next season, via @DanWoikeSports… Rondo won a championship with the Lakers in 2020,” read the post. 

Rondo started his NBA career with the Boston Celtics and played close to a decade and a half in the league. And apart from winning the 2020 NBA championship along with LeBron James, he also secured one with the Celtics in 2008, defeating the Lakers in the Finals. Now, the 38-year-old may not have been the best player on his teams but his numbers in terms of assists and the fact that he was a 3x assists leader cannot be ignored. What stands out the most, though, is his basketball knowledge.

Additionally, although there are other names in consideration, the speculations around Redick as the Lakers’ next head coach are strong. It’s true that Rondo and Redick have never played on the same team. But from 2x NBA champ’s appearance on Redick’s podcast, it seemed they get along just fine. Apart from this, LeBron is on good terms with both of them, so the dynamics already seem quite sorted.

What do fans think of the possibility of Rajon Rondo’s addition to the Lakers’ coaching staff?

It is well known that a certain section of basketball fans have often discredited the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship. The argument is that the concept of home-court advantage did not exist that year as the postseason was held in a bio-secure bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida to protect the players from the COVID-19 pandemic. On the same lines, one X user discredited Rondo’s 2020 NBA championship as a consideration for inclusion in the Lakers.

Although it is GMs who have the final say, head coaches often have their own suggestions in the hiring of their coaching staff. One X user expressed his concern that the Lakers are looking for coaching staff without finalizing the head coach yet. “They’re building a staff without a head coach?”

Some believe that the 4x All-Star coming into consideration has got to do something with LeBron. The King has, on multiple occasions, expressed his fondness for the 2x NBA champ. In fact, after Rajon Rondo’s retirement, Bron even mentioned him as “One of the best players” he ever played with. Based on this and his bond with Redick, some X users took a dig at LeBron. “LeGM hiring his friends.”

However, not everyone in the replies section was critical of Rondo’s consideration as coaching staff. There were some who were appreciative of the former Celtics star’s knowledge of the game. “Rondo is a higher level ball knower so can’t think but this would help the Lakers.”

Meanwhile, Mike Madden defended LeBron against the allegations of his involvement in the decision. He also further praised Rondo as one of the smartest players of his era. Madden claimed the 2x NBA champ would’ve ended up in the coaching department even if it was not for the Lakers. “Before the “LeBron is gonna get whoever he wants” starts, Rondo is one of the smartest players this era so he was gonna end up coaching eventually.“

In either case, the Lakers have surely ignited fans’ curiosity over their next move. The fans now most likely await for the franchise’s plan of action to sort its coaching department.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.