In Slam Online's ranking of the Top 50 players in the NBA, our very own Rajon Rondo comes in at #27:
With Garnett out, he became their pitbull (just ask Kirk Hinrich), point guard and leader. He had the heart, the grit and the stats as well. Averaging a near triple-double, Rajon Rondo became the pulse of his team without warning, emerging as a leader without explanation or expectation.
A third-year player known more for his ugly shooting percentages outside of the lane, Rondo moved into the fast lane with the blink of an eye. When people were questioning whether he’d be anything without the luxury of playing alongside the big three of Ray, Pierce and Kevin, in the playoffs he flipped the script and they were the ones thankful that they had him running not just the offense but their squad...
Rondo’s presence is as integral to this team’s
success as Garnett, Allen, Pierce, Rivers and ubuntu itself. In the
past season and postseason he has emerged not only as the final
cornerstone of the Celtics “foursome”, but as an All-Star and elite
point guard in the NBA. Slick glides to the basket, the ability to knife through
double-teams and defenders and smooth passes that surprise everyone but
his coach who knew he had it inside of him defines Rondo’s game.
Everything he’s not on a basketball court -read: a proficient shooter-
has only aided in making him who he is: a savvy, headstrong point guard
who will get into the lane at all costs.
There's no denying the fact Rajon Rondo is on his way to becoming one of the best players in the league. Exactly where he falls on a list of the Top 50 is up for debate. Other notable players who rank below Rondo on the list: Manu Ginobili (29), Shaq (30), Gilbert Arenas (34), Ray Allen (36), and Ron Artest (42).
