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Rajon Rondo: The Sacramento Kings’ Misunderstood Star

By Clevis Murray

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Coming off arguably his worst season of his career in 2014-15, we’re finding out that Rajon Rondo is just a misunderstood NBA star

Every player goes through a tough year in which they have a season that can be considered an anomaly. For Rajon Rondo, that anomaly was the 2014-15 season, in which he started with the Boston Celtics and ended with the Dallas Mavericks. It was a toxic relationship that both parties wish had never happened. Prior to the trade, Rondo was averaging 8.3 points, 10.8 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals. As for the Mavs, they were an astounding 16-6. Both Rondo and Dallas were doing well prior to their coming together and did horrible when they did.

Their relationship ended in a toxic way, with Rondo being excused from the team due to an injury to save face. Once the Mavs were eliminated in the first-round of the playoffs and the team refused to give their one-time starter his playoff share, their divorce was quite evident.

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Rondo, interestingly, signed with the Sacramento Kings on a one-year, $9.5M deal with the dream a of signing a max-deal during the summer of cap inflation in 2016. Dallas went in another direction, turning their attention towards DeAndre Jordan, and having a commitment from him before he left them at the altar.

Dallas made Rondo look bad in every way possible. Many pundits, fans and everyone on the Internet belittled the four-time All-Star for his attitude, play, ambition and calling him “washed up.” A few months later and everyone who said that is now saying the opposite. Rondo’s career has come back to life on the Kings…In, of all places, the dysfunction of Sacramento.

In Dallas, he was expected to follow and listen to head coach Rick Carlisle each and every possession. Rondo isn’t like Dallas’ new point guard, Deron Williams. Rondo wants freedom to do whatever, and giving him the green-light is a signal of trust. With George Karl in Sac-Town, he can do that and whatever else he needs to, along with re-building his brand.

Along with being in Sac-Town, Rondo is now playing with one of best centers in the NBA in DeMarcus Cousins, and a perennial teaser All-Star in Rudy Gay. Both Cousins and Gay were always rumored to be shipped to Beantown while Rondo was here, and now in Sacramento their union has come to fruition and it’s working out well.

Through 22 games of the young season, the two-time assist champ is averaging 12.3 points, 10.9 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals. To put it in perspective as to how magical of a season Rondo is currently having, check this out: he’d join Russell Westbrook (’14-15) as the only guard since Jason Kidd (’07-08) to finish a season averaging at least 10 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds per contest.

His play, along with a league-leading five triple-doubles, is why his dream of getting a max-contract — despite turning 30 in February — might come true this summer as the league salary cap will increase.

Sean Deveney of Sporing News recently reported about Rondo receiving a max-deal if his historic okay continues:

"“I don’t know whether he will quite get the maximum, mostly because we don’t know what the max is going to be,” one Eastern Conference general manager told Sporting News. “But there is going to be a lot of money on the market and only a handful of players who you would really say are max guys. If Rajon were to keep playing the way he’s been playing, if he is not getting the max next year, it’ll be close.”"

Not only has his play been spectacular, but his attitude on and off the court has been something to ravel at, and that’s credit to the maturity and growth of Rajon Rondo. He’s had his noticeable encounters in Boston with Doc Rivers and Ray Allen, and in Dallas with Carlisle. Thus far in Sacramento, he hasn’t done any reported internal damage. Instead, he’s being the veteran leader on a youthful team.

"[via Yahoo]“It was a powerful meeting for all three of us.”“I told him to start with me. Whatever I can do to help the team,” Rondo said. “If you have to bully me or call me out, I can accept that. I’m a 10-year vet. I learned from [former Boston Celtics coach] Doc [Rivers] and the past guys that it has to start with the vets who have the most leeway on the team or the most responsibility."

Yes, he’ll still have his vintage moments such as the heated moment he had with referee in Mexico City while playing his former team the Celtics. Come to think of it, that situation was akin to the one he had in 2012 against the Atlanta Hawks during Game 1. Besides that point though, he’s clearly trying to better himself for the team. The season is long and mental gaskets are meant to be blown periodically.

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Right now, the Kings are 7-15 and don’t look like the possible playoff team some pegged them to be during the offseason. It’s only twenty-two games into the season, and a turnaround could be on the horizon once things start clicking. As for Rondo, he needs to continue his on-court play and amass gaudy numbers in wins, and revert back to the possible Hall of Famer he looked like prior to his ACL injury.

Watching him play and reading what he says, you’ll know that he’s always been here. Last year was his bad year, this year is his comeback. Rajon Rondo knows he’s playing the best basketball he has in a while. The question is, did you know?

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