Rajon Rondo - Underrated?

Tracymcgoaty · Post #1 » by **Tracymcgoaty** » Thu Oct 16, 2025 9:40 pm

If we're strictly talking running the floor as a general how many players current or former were at the level of Rondo? Arguably the smartest player in the league based on players accounts who either played against him or with him the consensus seem to be that the man is a basketball genius.

That 2020 title i felt Rondo was HUGE yet he was rarely talked about but from a leadership position and as a floor general i dont think AD ever clicked with anyone better than Rondo during his tenure as a laker.

Based on what we've seen when it comes to Rondo in the postseason leveling it up when it matters how many all-time Point guards would you take him ahead of when it comes to post season basketball?

Not saying that he's better overall than anyone people might have on their all-time point guard list but would there be anyone you'd take Rondo ahead of when it comes to strictly post season basketball?

TheGeneral99 · Post #2 » by **TheGeneral99** » Thu Oct 16, 2025 9:45 pm

Not sure if he's underrated.

He was a very good player but also played with the big 3 on the Celtics, which gave him a huge opportunity to shine. Obviously his strengths are that he's a very high IQ, a great defender, excellent hands, a very good passer, and a good finisher with some clutch shooting even though he's not a good shooter.

After the big 3 era ended he was only 27 but he never really shined as a star after that and his offense was a bit too limited despite his superior passing.

He's a very good player, an ideal PG on a contender playing with other all-stars, but I wouldn't consider him a true perennial all-star player or HOFer. He's kind of like a Jrue Holiday type player, but Jrue is a better scorer/shooter which in my opinion makes him more valuable.

JinKaz69 · Post #3 » by **JinKaz69** » Thu Oct 16, 2025 9:59 pm

Rated fine in my opinion.

A little bit overrated with the C's during the big three era (many people thought he was the best PG of the league and was as the same level as Chris Paul) but still a very good player.

His passing was a bit inflated because he used to statpad his assists.

He didn't like Ray but their were very complementary to each other.

GrindCityHustle · Post #4 » by **GrindCityHustle** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:43 am

I was thinking about him today lol

Definitely a championship level PG but as the 5th best starter if that makes sense.

Bloodbather · Post #5 » by **Bloodbather** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:47 am

Loved watching him with the Celtics as I love great passers and all-arounder PGs.

I think he was slightly overrated for his time with the Celtics. The impact usually wasn't what the numbers suggested offensively because of his limited scoring threat. Then this became more recognized among the more analytically minded fans and it went the other direction where he was reduced to a statpadder for a bit.

I think he's properly rated at this point. Not sure about the casual fans, though.

dans1230 · Post #6 » by **dans1230** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:41 am

Rondo is rated properly IMO, his BBIQ and vision were next level, but his inability to shoot free throws was an anchor on him offensively at times. Early in his career Rondo would drive and was a very creative finisher around the rim, but i noticed as his career went along he was hesitant to drive because he didnt want to get fouled and forced to shoot free throws. His defense was a bit overrated, expecially with the Celtics as he had KG behind him and often took alot of chances. He was a Marcus Smart like player when it came to steals as he took alot of chances and sometimes got burned for it.

druggas · Post #7 » by **druggas** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:33 am

On defense, you could play way off of him and dare him to shoot from outside. That took a lot of his drives away too.

Post #8 » by **cupcakesnake** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:47 am

I think Rondo was a unique and crafty player that didn't have the tools to directly pressure the defense. You couldn't put him at the center of your offense and expect him to bend the defense and make plays, but if you put him next to players that can bend/pressure the defense, Rondo can add a ton of extra value with his guile, his length, and his playmaking.

I think this is true on defense too. He wasn't an amazing point of attack defender, nor was he big enough to be central to your team scheme, but he could add value by being clever, athletic and long.

Life was perfect for him on the Celtics, where they had KG as a spacing/playmaking high post hub, with Ray scrambling the defense, and Pierce giving some pressure as a driver. All those guys were old, and needed a young guy who had the energy to be all over the floor doing stuff. Ray and KG being so excellent off the catch, gave Rondo some easy bread and butter passing to do. I think people misunderstood this young version of Rondo, and imagined he was like Chris Paul or Steve Nash: a floor general running the offense and diming guys up. Rondo was much more the icing, rather than the cake.

He started getting injured around the same time the big 3 left, so we didn't actually get to see much prime Rondo without his vets. His fg% fell of dramatically when Piece/KG left. He was almost a 50%fg player with the big 3, then a 40% one for the rest of his career. That's a crazy difference. We also never saw him defend at a high level again without KG. He floundered brutally as a traditional lead guard in Dallas, then sort of bounced back in Sacramento, then finally found his niche in smaller roles for a whole bunch of teams. There were several years where he came up big in the playoffs. I think the key was Rondo not being central, but being in a position to add value on the margins.

SA37 · Post #9 » by **SA37** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:08 pm

Not underrated in any way.

He was a starting level player, but was never going to be an all-star without being carried there by being on a good team with 2-4 players who were better than him. Had it not been for his time in Boston -- which turned out to be an outlier, really -- I think his career would look even more similar to Jameer Nelson's.

flow · Post #10 » by **flow** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:10 pm

Tracymcgoaty wrote:

If we're strictly talking running the floor as a general how many players current or former were at the level of Rondo? Arguably the smartest player in the league based on players accounts who either played against him or with him the consensus seem to be that the man is a basketball genius.

That 2020 title i felt Rondo was HUGE yet he was rarely talked about but from a leadership position and as a floor general i dont think AD ever clicked with anyone better than Rondo during his tenure as a laker.

Based on what we've seen when it comes to Rondo in the postseason leveling it up when it matters how many all-time Point guards would you take him ahead of when it comes to post season basketball?

Not saying that he's better overall than anyone people might have on their all-time point guard list but would there be anyone you'd take Rondo ahead of when it comes to strictly post season basketball?

Current? None. Ever? Very few. As a pure floor general, Rondo is elite, goat-level. One of the few players able to dominate a game offensively without shooting or scoring.

.

TK Smart · Post #11 » by **TK Smart** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 12:56 pm

I really think what's stopping Rondo from truly getting his flowers is when he got hurt in that Bulls Celtics series during the Wade-Bulls years. He was killing them and had the Bulls up 2-0 going back home and then he went down and we didn't win a single game afterwards. If that team with all the dysfunction and controversy around it would have pulled off that upset, I think it'd be very clear at that point that Rondo is who everybody who's a fan of a team he played for says he is.

But I'm betting even then they would have said that was Butler/Wade and started talking all this goofy **** with advanced metrics when everybody watching the series could plainly see it was Rondo in there dictating tempo, making key defensive plays and keeping the ball moving that won the games.

ryan in Maine · Post #12 » by **ryan in Maine** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 1:05 pm

Watch on YouTube

bkkrh · Post #13 » by **bkkrh** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 1:09 pm

I wouldn´t say unterrated. He had a very short peak. His coming out party were the 08/09 playoffs, that´s when he got a lot of recognition for stepping up while KG was out, but his peak was over by the time he turned 27.

So he just falls into the category of players that were super present and impactful for a short amount of time. If you watched Basketball during that period he left a big impression, otherwise it was just a too short peak. Kinda like a Chris Mullin, Mark Price, Penny Hardaway, or Gilbert Arenas.

FrodoBaggins · Post #14 » by **FrodoBaggins** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 1:20 pm

A good jump shot away from being a Chris Paul-level PG. Shame.

flow · Post #15 » by **flow** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 2:30 pm

FrodoBaggins wrote:A good jump shot away from being a Chris Paul-level PG. Shame.

With a jump shot, he'd easily surpass Chris Paul.

.

rand · Post #16 » by **rand** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 2:35 pm

flow wrote:
FrodoBaggins wrote:A good jump shot away from being a Chris Paul-level PG. Shame.

With a jump shot, he'd easily surpass Chris Paul.

.

"Easily"?

How many PGs in NBA history easily surpass Chris Paul and is Rondo + a good jumper the equal of those guys?

Bergmaniac · Post #17 » by **Bergmaniac** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 2:37 pm

He is overrated if anything, especially on the offensive end. For all of his supposed amazing passing and basketball IQ he was never the PG of an impressive offense even when he played alongside plenty of talent. His Celtics teams in his prime were mediocre to terrible on that end even when they still had the Big 3. There is no way in hell he is anywhere near the best floor generals of all time.

FrodoBaggins · Post #18 » by **FrodoBaggins** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:06 pm

flow wrote:
FrodoBaggins wrote:A good jump shot away from being a Chris Paul-level PG. Shame.

With a jump shot, he'd easily surpass Chris Paul.

.

Even if Rondo was given identical shooting ability (three, mid, FT; pull-up, catch-and-shoot) to CP3, he wouldn't be easily better than him. He's got better physical tools (wingspan), but I'm not sure he was any better in any specific area of the game for it. The ball handling, passing, slashing/finishing, defense, and overall basketball IQ, awareness, and decision-making are close enough between them.

Rondo should've been a better defender with that wingspan; like a PG Kawhi. But I'm not sure he was. In fact, Clipper CP3 might be better than pre-ACL Rondo.

bonita_the_frog · Post #19 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:11 pm

The highest rating Rondo ever received in a 2K video games is 90, and that's his rating in the All-Time Celtics in NBA 2K26.
BTW, Chris Paul is 97 for the All-Time Pelicans, and 93 for the All-Time Clippers.

MMyhre · Post #20 » by **MMyhre** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:32 pm

GrindCityHustle wrote:I was thinking about him today lol

Definitely a championship level PG but as the 5th best starter if that makes sense.

I don't think you can expect your 5th best starter to be capable of making the All NBA third team, All Star, assists leader and make the defensive second team in one season.