Anthony Davis Reveals He Urged Rajon Rondo to Join Him After Trade to Lakers

The Lakers have been in a happy spot this season, and Rajon Rondo’s arrival in the Playoffs has brought a significant boost to the team’s energy level. You can see him all over the court, pumped with the experience of being a veteran. Star player, Anthony Davis highlighted Rondo’s vitality in a team as strong as the Lakers.

A veteran point guard, Rondo couldn’t play in the bubble after he faced injury in the initial seeding game itself. But Lakers were blessed with ‘Playoff Rondo’ at a crucial time in the season. And nobody can deny the zeal he has brought with himself to win the games at all costs.

Currently, the Lakers are 3-1 up against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, a win away from making it to the Finals. Davis led the points table in Game 4 with 34 points that contributed to an important 114-108 victory for the team.

Rajon Rondo making a difference soon after plunging into the league

The link between Davis and Rondo trails back to their New Orleans days. Davis joined LeBron James and Co. last summer. Rondo also signed with the Lakers in 2019. It seems like AD urged him to do so considering the strong winning intent the two share.

Davis respects Rondo for being the pushing factor to him for a long time. He reminisced and went back to the times when he played with Rondo as part of the Pelicans.

“Our (Davis and Rondo) competitive nature, our will to win. When he first got to New Orleans, he told me he came there because he felt like we had a chance to win,” AD said in the post-game interview. “Demarcus (Cousins) and I, and then having Jrue (Holiday), so he felt like it was a good opportunity for him to come in and try help lead the team to win the championship. Demarcus got hurt, so it kind of took a turn in our playoff run.”

Anthony Davis called up ex-Pelicans’ teammate, Rondo, after getting traded to the Lakers

After playing alongside his old teammate, AD reflected on how Rondo had touched his playing days in Pelicans and now Lakers. Davis revealed that Rondo was the first person he called up after getting traded to the Lakers.

“When I got traded here, he (Rondo) was actually the first person I called and told him that I wanted him to come back. Because I knew how much I excelled with him and how much of a leader he is and his mindset on the floor and his will to win. And to have a guy like that, you know with his basketball mind is, his IQ with a guy like Bron.

“Having a championship under his belt, they know what to take. But me and him (Rondo) just clicked. I mean he’s always in my ear about being the best defensive player on the floor, being the best offensive player on the floor even when it doesn’t seem possible… He always puts pressure on me to do the impossible things,” Davis added.

Rondo recorded 11 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds in Game 4 and is an asset to the Lakers’ bench. How far can the two teammates take the Lakers in this season?