A retired NBA champion has formally declared the end of his professional basketball career.
Rajon Rondo, absent from NBA courts since his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022, has now definitively retired from the game. In a recent appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast, the seasoned point guard was asked about his playing future, to which he responded with unwavering certainty.
“Absolutely. Yeah, I’m done,” Rondo affirmed. “I’d rather spend time with my kids…”
This decision comes as little surprise, considering Rondo’s age of 38 and his absence from engagement with NBA teams for workouts. His final stint with the Cavaliers saw him averaging 6.2 points and 4.9 assists across 21 games to conclude the 2021-22 season.
Drafted by the Boston Celtics as the 21st overall pick in 2006, Rondo played a pivotal role as the starting point guard in Boston’s 2008 championship triumph alongside Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. He remained with the Celtics until his trade to the Dallas Mavericks in 2014, contributing to another NBA Finals appearance in 2010, where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Over his illustrious 16-year NBA career, Rondo represented nine different teams and secured a second championship as a contributing player with the Lakers in 2020.
In more recent times, Rondo has encountered legal issues, including an arrest in January on charges related to firearms and marijuana following a traffic stop. This incident occurred despite a court mandate stemming from a 2022 altercation in which he allegedly brandished a firearm at the mother of his children.
Throughout his career, Rondo earned All-Star recognition four times and was twice named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Additionally, he led the league in assists on three occasions.
