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Is Rajon Rondo a Hall of Famer?

By Alex Eddy

BOSTON - APRIL 26: Chicago Bulls player Rajon Rondo warms up with his teammates before they play the Boston Celtics during Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston on April 26, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - APRIL 26: Chicago Bulls player Rajon Rondo warms up with his teammates before they play the Boston Celtics during Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston on April 26, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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At one point Rajon Rondo was on a fast track for the Hall of Fame, but he has a lot of work to get back there now

Before making brief stints in Dallas, Sacramento, Chicago, and now New Orleans, Rajon Rondo called Boston home for nine years.

With the Boston Celtics, Rondo won a NBA championship in 2008, was a four-time All-Star, an All-NBA Third Team member, a two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member, a two-time NBA All- Defensive Second Team member, a two-time NBA assists leader, and an NBA steals leader. To put it simply, Rondo was on track for a hall of fame career.

Rondo was an integral part of the championship team in 2008 for the Celtics. Whether it was throwing a lob up to Kevin Garnett, setting up Paul Pierce for a game-winner, or hitting Ray Allen in the corner for a 3-pointer, Rondo was the engine behind the Celtics’ offense for years.

When the Celtics decided to rebuild, Rondo was traded to the Mavericks, which seemed like a match made in heaven. The Mavericks needed a point guard to pair next to Monta Ellis, and it seemed as though Rondo would fit well with Rick Carlisle.

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Unfortunately, the Rondo era in Dallas was short, and didn’t go as planned. Ironically, Rondo’s best performance in a Mavericks’ uniform was in his return to the TD Garden. Rondo had a game-high 29 points, including a 5-7 shooting performance from 3-point range.

Rondo actually had a very good year with the Kings for the 2015-2016 season. He averaged double digit assists for the first time since his Boston days, and matched his career high of 11.7 assists. Rondo went on to be the assists leader for the first time since 2013.

Rondo had a fairly disappointing year with the Bulls this past season, but showed flashes of his playoff experience during the postseason before he got hurt.

Rondo is now a member of the Pelicans, a team that already has a franchise point guard in Jrue Holiday. Will Rondo be able to play alongside Holiday, or will he be in charge of running the second team?

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It will be interesting to see how Rondo fits in with the Pelicans, and to see if he can rekindle his prior success with DeMarcus Cousins. Perhaps Rondo can have a revitalizing season for the Pelicans, but as it stands for now, Rondo does not seem to be a hall of fame player, despite his outstanding years in Boston. Jumping from team to team on one-year deals doesn’t seem to help his case.

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