“I’m the oldest guy on the team here in terms of years of experience. The game is like that, always give it to the guys who come after you. We were like that with me, and it’s my turn to pass on ”.
Rajon Rondo arrived over-motivated, from the Lakers, to join the great saga of the Cavs who signed a third victory in four away games since his arrival, by winning 111-91 on the floor of Utah tonight. Even if he did not play in Salt Lake City, the leader lives again in the role of veteran within a team made up of young talents in the making, with in particular Darius Garland, Evan Mobley or even Jarrett Allen.
“I always want to be competitive at a high level. I was fine in Los Angeles. But at the same time, for my mental well-being, I think I will be much happier now because I love to compete and to be involved ”, he confided.“And here I will have the opportunity. It’s a matter of perspective. I always look at things in a number of different ways. I wasn’t going crazy on the bench there, but I wanted to play and have more impact (…) Here, I know what my role is. I come here to get involved, to be active and to have a big influence on these young guys. Try to be a pro ”.
A good steak for bonding
Thus, after his first victory in his new jersey, near Portland, Rajon Rondo took the initiative to take the whole team to “El Gaucho”, a famous “Steakhouse” in the city. A way to get to know each other and develop a spirit of camaraderie within his group where he quickly took an important place. And as a good leader, it was he who took charge of the bill.
” I love eating. My veterans have always footed the bill. And at the same time, that’s how you build camaraderie, because everyone likes to eat and have a good conversation, with a little glass of wine for those who can ”.
In a good atmosphere and after a great victory, anecdotes and commonalities then burst forth, until Rajon Rondo realizes that he had played in high school near Gary (Indiana), where Darius Garland was born! It is exactly for these kinds of small details that strengthen a group that the veteran had shot the “restaurant” card. It was also an opportunity for him to realize how much he is now part of the “old” generation.
“When I played in Darius Garland’s town, I think he was barely born! “, he said. “We shared a few stories like this after dinner. It helped me get to know them better. And after hearing how they saw me, I said to myself: ‘It’s true that I’ve been playing for a while. It’s a lesson in humility. Because these guys are closer to my kids’ ages than mine. When I turned 20, my veteran was called Kevin Garnett. I would like to have the same influence for them and help them build a culture of victory ”.
His arrival is also a tremendous boost for the rest of the team, delighted to be able to evolve alongside such a player, who will bring as much on the floor as off.
“It means a lot to have him with us, to count on the presence of another veteran, a creator who involves everyone”, confirmed Darius Garland. “In Portland, we chatted over dinner to get to know each other better, like new teammates do. I was super excited for him to come. I’m so young it’s cool to have another veteran ”.
| Rondo region | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2006-07 | BUNCH | 78 | 24 | 41.8 | 20.7 | 64.7 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 6.4 |
| 2007-08 | BUNCH | 77 | 30 | 49.2 | 26.3 | 61.1 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| 2008-09 | BUNCH | 80 | 33 | 50.5 | 31.2 | 64.2 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 8.2 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 11.9 |
| 2009-10 | BUNCH | 81 | 37 | 50.8 | 21.2 | 62.1 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 9.8 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 13.7 |
| 2010-11 | BUNCH | 68 | 37 | 47.5 | 23.3 | 56.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 11.2 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| 2011-12 | BUNCH | 53 | 37 | 44.8 | 23.8 | 59.7 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 11.7 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 11.9 |
| 2012-13 | BUNCH | 38 | 37 | 48.4 | 24.0 | 64.5 | 1.1 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 11.1 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 13.7 |
| 2013-14 | BUNCH | 30 | 33 | 40.3 | 28.9 | 62.7 | 0.7 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 11.7 |
| 2014-15 * | All Teams | 68 | 30 | 42.6 | 31.4 | 39.7 | 1.1 | 4.4 | 5.5 | 7.9 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 8.9 |
| 2014-15 * | FROM | 46 | 29 | 43.6 | 35.2 | 45.2 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 9.3 |
| 2014-15 * | BUNCH | 22 | 32 | 40.5 | 25.0 | 33.3 | 1.1 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 10.8 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 8.3 |
| 2015-16 | SAC | 72 | 35 | 45.4 | 36.5 | 58.0 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 11.7 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 11.9 |
| 2016-17 | SPEND | 69 | 27 | 40.8 | 37.6 | 60.0 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 7.8 |
| 2017-18 | NOP | 65 | 26 | 46.8 | 33.3 | 54.3 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 8.2 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 8.3 |
| 2018-19 | LAL | 46 | 30 | 40.5 | 35.9 | 63.9 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 9.2 |
| 2019-20 | LAL | 48 | 21 | 41.8 | 32.8 | 65.9 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 7.1 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 45 | 17 | 44.2 | 40.4 | 94.1 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 5.4 |
| 2020-21 * | ATL | 27 | 15 | 40.0 | 37.8 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 3.9 |
| 2020-21 * | LAC | 18 | 20 | 48.6 | 43.2 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 7.6 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 21 | 17 | 34.7 | 31.8 | 75.0 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 4.1 |
| 2021-22 * | LAL | 18 | 16 | 32.4 | 26.7 | 50.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
| 2021-22 * | CLE | 3 | 22 | 41.7 | 42.9 | 83.3 | 0.3 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 10.3 |
| Total | 939 | 30 | 45.7 | 32.2 | 61.0 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 8.0 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 9.8 | |
