Rondo key to Celtics' future

MANILA, Philippines - Long after Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are gone from Boston, spitfirish guard Rajon Rondo will still be running the show for the Celtics in the NBA. That’s because the 24-year-old kid from the University of Kentucky has just barely scratched the surface of what promises to be a Bob Cousy-like career.

Cousy played 13 years for Boston from 1950-51 to 1962-63, leading the Celtics to six championships. Sports Illustrated writer Ian Thomsen said there hasn’t been a Celtics guard as flamboyant as Cousy until Rondo came along. This past regular season, Rondo broke Cousy’s 50-year-old franchise record for most assists and made it to his first All-Star Game as a reserve on the East squad.

While there were rumors that Rondo was on the trading block in the offseason, the talk died down after he signed a five-year extension worth a guaranteed $55 Million last November. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge hasn’t regretted the renewal.

What makes Rondo special is his ability to do multiple tasks on the floor. He’s not just a passer but also a scorer and a rebounder. In Game 4 of the recent Cleveland series, Rondo posted his fourth playoff triple-double with 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists – joining Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only players ever to compile at least those numbers in a single post-season outing. And in Game 2 of the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he chalked up another triple double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. 

In the Game 7 clincher yesterday morning (Manila time), Rondo collected 14 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in 44:53 minutes. His three-point conversion was the Celtics’ last basket with 16.2 seconds left as the Lakers won, 83-79, to clinch the crown.

In the playoffs last season, Rondo averaged nearly a triple double in the Chicago Bulls series, showing up Derrick Rose by norming 19.4 points, 11.6 assists and 9.3 rebounds.

The frightening thing about Rondo is he keeps getting better year after year and he’s only 24. His scoring average has improved from 6.4 as a rookie in 2006-07 to 10.6 to 11.9 and to 13.7 in his fourth campaign. And so has his field goal percentage risen from .418 to .492 to .505 to .508. Additionally, Rondo led the NBA in steals with a 2.3 clip this regular season.

“Sometimes, I hear people say that I’m awfully young to be in the NBA,” said Rondo. “Sometimes, it seems like people are going at me like I’m 30 but that’s OK. You can’t prepare for it or pay too much attention to it because it’s a business.”

For Rondo, playing basketball is his business and it’s serious business. Before this season started, he worked hard preparing for the grind and hired former NBA sharpshooter Mark Price to improve on his stroke. Rondo was castigated by critics for shooting only 2-of-15 triples in the Orlando series last season and wanted to do something about it.”Rajon is young and needs to mature which he is doing,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “He’s a pro and he works his butt off.”

Rondo is so versatile that experts describe him as a small Hakeem Olajuwon particularly when he penetrates the lane, stops, extends the ball in his hand to fake off a defender then pulls back to pivot for a fadeaway or when he posts up. He is also called a young version of Steve Nash with his one-handed passes and behind-the-back dishes.

With so much talent at point guard in the NBA, Rondo is confident he can hold his own against anybody.

“If I truly felt someone was that much better than me, I would give credit,” he said. “Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, the young guys, Deron Williams – they’re very good. But for what I do, I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’d be this successful so far if I didn’t have that confidence. I don’t think I’d be able to do what I’ve done leading this team because it’s not easy playing with these high-caliber guys.”

Rondo, the first NBA player to endorse Red Bull, grew up virtually without a father. One of four children, he had little contact with his father who left his family when he was seven. His mother Amber worked the third shift at Philip Morris to put food on the table.

Playing football was his dream as a kid growing up and he played the sport in high school until his mother convinced him to focus on basketball instead. Rondo was a problem case early in high school, missing or showing up late for practices. He matured in his senior season and was recruited to play for Kentucky. Rondo’s go-go style didn’t jibe with Wildcats coach Tubby Smith’s deliberate approach and he declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore year.

In 2008, Rondo tasted his first NBA championship playing with the Big Three. But Pierce, 32, Garnett, 34, and Ray Allen, 34, won’t be around for too much longer. There’s even talk that Allen is headed for Miami next season.   At least, the Celtics’ future is secure with Rondo as quarterback.