“On that Level with LeBron and Kobe and MJ”- Lakers Assistant Coach Lauds Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo is now a 2-time NBA Champion. The 34-year-old point guard is an NBA Champion with the Lakers, making him the first player in history to win NBA titles with the Celtics and the Lakers.

Rondo’s quality in the post-season is a major reason behind the Lakers’ glory. Rondo is the perennial third superstar that the Lakers are in search of.

Lakers’ Assistant Coach Phil Handy recently featured on the Courtside Hustle podcast and spoke about Rondo’s intelligence in a very positive light.

“He’s one of the smartest basketball players I’ve ever been around. He’s on that level with LeBron and Kobe and MJ, in how they dissect the game from a mental standpoint. There’s not too many better than him.”

Playoff Rondo Forever

Rondo is one of the best playmakers of his generation. A quintessential point guard, his court vision and passing ability are unrivaled in the league. He ranks sixth in all-time Playoffs assists, much above legendary players like Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant.

Handy credits Rondo’s playmaking ability to his mental fortitude. “I call Rondo a basketball savant. His approach to the game is pretty fierce. He talks about playing chess on the basketball court. He’s always trying to manipulate something.”

Rajon Rondo “just wants to win”

Rondo’s reputation has suffered in the last few years. Disappointing stints in Dallas, Chicago, and New Orleans saw him garner the reputation of ‘being difficult’ to coach and to play with.

A maestro like Rondo always believed that he had the best option available for the team if they carried out his vision. This hardly ever sat well with the coaches, as it was their job to draw up plays that get the best result possible.

Handy attributed this bad reputation and aggressive demeanor to his desire to win. He said, “To see him come back after so many years and hearing the whispers about him… ‘Coach Killer’ etc. all that stuff.

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“He’s a basketball purist and a competitor. That can sometimes be misconstrued, sometimes that edge to win can be misconstrued as being overbearing or not being coachable. He just wants to win.”

Rajon Rondo is rumored to be a free agent this season, after reports suggesting he will decline his player option to test free agency.

Rondo brings a lot to the table, although he isn’t the player he was 10 years ago. It will be interesting to see where he lands up.

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