On Sunday, The Stein Line reported that former Boston Celtics NBA champion point guard Rajon Rondo is a candidate (subscription required) for the Pelicans' head coaching job.
League sources say Rondo has been interviewed for the post after serving as a special assistant on Doc Rivers' Milwaukee staff. Rondo is said to have felt his first coaching itch while recovering from a torn ACL as a Celtic, prompting Brad Stevens to bring him into staff meetings.
Rondo joined the Bucks before the 2024-25 season started as a "guest coach" under Doc Rivers, but he wasn't officially on staff. He served as a "coaching associate" this past season in Milwaukee, which allowed him to sit on the bench during games and help with in-game adjustments.
The former guard's eventual goal of becoming an NBA head coach is nothing new; he's wanted it for years. Brad Stevens is one of several people who have coached Rondo and predicted that he would one day become a coach himself.
Well, that day could come very soon if New Orleans decides to name Rondo as its next head coach.
Pelicans interviewed Rajon Rondo for head coaching vacancy
The Stein Line listed several other potential candidates that New Orleans has "strong interest" in, including current NBA assistants Sean Sweeney, Darvin Ham, and Steve Hetzel. They have also reportedly requested to interview Pistons assistant Jarrett Jack.
The Pelicans fired Willie Green in November, naming James Borrego as their interim head coach. He's still in the mix to become the official head coach, but New Orleans is also exploring other options.
It's certainly noteworthy that Rondo has already had one interview for the job. New Orleans could hope to take a similar path to LA's with JJ Redick. The Lakers hired him in 2024, even though he had no NBA head-coaching experience (just at the youth-level!). Redick has a unique. basketball mind, though, as does Rondo.
It has to help that Rondo spent the past two seasons with the Bucks, learning more about life from the sideline. It wasn't pretty in Milwaukee, to no fault of his own, but that kind of chaotic experience can help him as he prepares to take the next step in his journey.
Maybe that will be in New Orleans, an organization that isn't exactly known for being well-run. Rondo could help reshape the culture into a winning one, though.
If the Pelicans do name him as their next head coach, Celtics fans will, of course, be happy for him.
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