Rajon+Rondo

__ ﻿ __ **Max Unthank**

= RAJON RONDO =

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**Summary of Accomplishments**



__**// BACKGROUND: //**__

When Rajon Rondo entered the National Basketball Association he was considered stubborn, a label that was stuck on him since his basketball years in High School. He had always had the talent and leadership skills to become great, but his maturity was an issue. That stain on his name quickly washed away when he turned his stubbornness into pure determination and went on to lead the Boston Celtics to a National Championship in 2008. "You've got to have some stubbornness in you, that's what makes you great," is what Doc Rivers, Head Coach of the Boston Celtics told him ([|Source]). Rajon Rondo, in a 6'1" 170 pound frame, is not intimidating on the court because of his size, or strength, instead he uses his speed and quickness to blow by defenders and create for himself, or his teammates.

//**__HIGH SCHOOL:__**// Rajon Rondo started out as an athletic leader, he was a high school quarterback, pitcher, and point guard, assuming the position of authority every time he stepped on the field or court. He grew up in Louisville and attended Eastern High School for three years. In his junior year, Rondo managed to average 27.9 points,10.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists a game. This earned him the title of 7th Region High School Player of the Year. Rajon Rondo then decided to transfer to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year where he lead his team to a 38-0 record and averaged 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 12 assists a game. He was named a Mcdonald's All-American and played in the All-Star High School Prospect game.

//__**COLLEGE:**__// Rondo decided not to attend the college of his hometown, Louisville, and instead decided to go to college at the University of Kentucky. There he played for only two years. In his freshman year, Rondo was named to the SEC All-Freshman team but unfortunately was not able to win a college title in the short time he played College basketball. In his sophomore year, Rondo averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. It was then that Rajon Rondo decided that it was time to declare himself for the NBA draft. There was clearly buzz in the NBA about the point guard, as people like Byron Scott, coach of the New Orleans Hornets explained, "When he first came into the league, he introduced himself to me. I said, 'I know who you are'"([|Source]).

__//**NBA CAREER:**//__ Rajon Rondo was drafted with the 21st pick to the Pheonix Suns in the 2005-2006 draft, but was traded immediately to the Celtics on draft night. He did not receive much playing time in his rookie season, playing under former Celtics point guards Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West. The next season, however, the Celtics traded both Telfair and West and that secured Rajon Rondo the starting role on the Boston Celtics. Rondo was surrounded by very seasoned veterans and future hall of famers such as Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, and he had much pressure on him to assume the leadership role. Rondo executed his job to perfection, averaging 10.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds a game. That year, Rondo lead his team in assists and steals, showing that he was a playmaker himself. The Celtics moved on to the playoffs where Rondo shined. He lead the team all the way to game 6 of the finals against the Lakers and brought it home with a career-high 6 steal performance, sealing the deal for the 2008 title of National Champions. "Rajon Rondo was the MVP of Game 6", was what Phil Jackson, coach of the runner up Laker team had to say(Source).

Rondo is currently continuing to develop as a professional point guard in the NBA. He led the Celtics to the 2009-2010 finals which they lost in game 7 to the Lakers. This season, he leads the league in assists and continues to use his strong determination, which was originally seen as stubbornness, to be a very dominant player in the league.


 * ** SocialSOC I ﻿Social ** || ** Politic ﻿ alP ﻿Political ** || ** Econ ﻿ ﻿Economic ** ||
 * 1) Rajon Rondo was drafted to the Pheonix Suns in the 2006-2007 draft and was simultaneously drafted to the Boston Celtics. || 8) Rajon Rondo is a representative of the NBA players association along with several of his teammates. || 12) In 2010, Rondo and the Red Bull Energy company teamed up and donated 500$ to the Boston Parks and Recreation department for every steal that Rajon Rondo recorded during the regular Season. ||
 * 2) In his Rookie season, he was ranked in the top 10 for steals. || 9) Rajon Rondo received the 2010 Red Auerbach award for his charity work in the Boston Community. || 13) Rondo also chose to donate 5000$ to Louisville Basketball programs for every steal that he made in the All-Star Game. ||
 * 3) During his Rookie season he was also named to the All-Rookie Second Team. || 10) Rajon Rondo is the founder of the Assisting Youth Foundation, a foundation that provides low-income areas with resources and hope for the future. || 14) This year, he invites people to donate 2$ on his website to charity for every assist he makes this year. ||
 * 4) Rajon Rondo won an NBA Championship Ring in 2008 as the starting Point Guard for the Celtics. || 11) Rondo has been working with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) for five years. || 15) Rajon Rondo has raised over 100,000$ in all of his Charities Combined ||
 * 5) Rajon Rondo currently leads the NBA in assists, and is ranked second in steals. ||  ||   ||
 * 6) After the 2007-2008 regular season, Rondo was voted into the top five for the Most improved player award. ||  ||   ||
 * 7) During the 2009-2010 season, Rondo was voted as part of the All-Star Team. ||  ||   ||

An "Interview" With Rajon Rondo

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Works Cited:

"College Basketball." American Decades. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Mar. 2011.

Dupree, David. "The Book on Rajon Rondo." USA Today: n. pag. JSTOR. Web. 6 Mar. 2011. .

"Rajon Rondo." Basketball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC, 15 Mar. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. rondora01.html>.

"Rajon Rondo Info Page." National Basketball Association. Web. 11 Mar. 2011. .

Thomsen, Ian. "The Ball's in His Hands." Sports Illustrated 2 Mar. 2009: 38-41. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. a=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=36651762>.

"Rajon Rondo." Official Website of Rajon Rondo. Rajon Rondo, 7 Mar. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. .