Rajon Rondo formally introduced his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons.
Throughout an look on the “All of the Smoke” podcast, Rondo was fast with a response when requested by host Matt Barnes if the NBA has seen the final of him.
“Completely,” the 38-year-old level guard mentioned. “Yeah, I am executed. I am unable to. I might moderately spend time with my children.”
A four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Rondo final performed within the 2021-22 season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
“What a time, it was undoubtedly one thing that I by no means took with no consideration after I was within the sport,” Rondo mentioned. “I beloved each minute of it, and I recognize the brotherhood that I used to be capable of share and bond and develop with through the years. I’ve realized a lot on this sport and it is made me the person who I’m in the present day. … I inform individuals on a regular basis, this wasn’t a dream of mine, it was a objective. I used to be capable of lock in, keep disciplined, I did not occasion lots in faculty. But it surely was well worth the sacrifice of me attending to the place I wished to be in life.”
Rondo led the NBA in steals per sport in 2009-10 and in assists per sport in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2015-16. He made the league’s All-Defensive Staff 4 occasions and gained NBA titles with the 2007-08 Boston Celtics and the 2019-20 Lakers.
He averaged 9.8 factors, 7.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 957 profession video games (733 begins) with the Celtics (2006-15), Dallas Mavericks (2015), Sacramento Kings (2015-16), Chicago Bulls (2016-17), New Orleans Pelicans (2017-18), Lakers (2018-20, 2021-22), Atlanta Hawks (2020-21), Los Angeles Clippers (2020-21) and Cavaliers (2021-22).
LeBron James, who gained a championship with Rondo on the Lakers in 2020, referred to as him a “spectacular participant” after L.A.’s sport on Tuesday evening.
“Top-of-the-line gamers I ever performed with.” he mentioned. “Clearly his IQ is out of this world and I used to be very fortunate to get to crew up with him at that time right here after I was in L.A. … simply being a fierce competitor all through my profession when he was in Boston, clearly our battles that we had after I was in Cleveland after which going to Miami.”
Rondo is scheduled to face trial on April 25 in Jackson County, Indiana, on a cost of illegal possession of a firearm in addition to misdemeanor drug paraphernalia and marijuana fees. In February, he rejected a plea settlement supply from prosecutors. His attorneys have since argued that the gun cost ought to be dismissed as a result of it violates Rondo’s Second Modification rights.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Subject Stage Media contributed to this report.
