Is Rajon Rondo about to get his coaching start with one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, one with which he won a title? Shams Charania is reporting that Rondo is a candidate to join JJ Redick’s staff at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Earlier today, Shams also broke the news that Redick is signing a four-year deal with the Lakers for around $8 million per season. As you might remember, the Lakers pursued Dan Hurley earlier this month before Hurley turned down a six-year, $70 million contract to return to UConn. That cleared the way for Redick, who retired from his playing career in 2021 and has been a rising star in the media world. This will be his first professional coaching job.
Rondo is also new to the coaching ranks, having retired from the sport in April 2024. The former Kentucky Wildcat played for nine NBA teams across 16 seasons. Nine of those seasons were with the Boston Celtics, with which he won the 2008 NBA Championship. He won it again with the Lakers in 2020. Rondo was named an NBA All-Star four times, scoring 9,337 career points along with 7,584 assists, 4,349 rebounds, and 1,518 steals.
There have long been rumors Rondo would get into coaching, including some smoke that he would join John Calipari’s staff at Kentucky for the 2023-24 season. That didn’t happen, but Rondo was close to the program last year while he was in town working towards his degree. He also has an AAU program in Louisville, Rondo Elite, which could have complicated joining a college staff.
That should be no issue in the NBA, where Rondo could reunite with Lakers stars and former teammates Anthony Davis and LeBron James. In fact, earlier this year, James said on Redick’s podcast that Rondo has what it takes to be a head coach at a high level.
“Rajon Rondo. He could do things on the go. It’s very weird to me that he’s not coaching at a high level – I think it’s because he doesn’t want to do it. Who wants to deal with these rich entitled guys all the time?”
There will be lots of discussions about the future of the Lakers franchise in the coming days, weeks, and months. It’s pretty cool that Rondo, one of the most brilliant minds in the game and a former Cat, could be part of them.
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