Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is ready to start a new chapter in his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, a team he was linked to during the NBA offseason before heading to the Atlanta Hawks, where his tenure wasn’t the best of all.
The 35-year-old has been earned a reputation of being a playoffs performer and that must have been the key for the Clippers to pull the trigger on this move and land the player, who already played in L.A. last campaign. Well, now he’s back in town but playing with the Clippers, a team that can use his help to reach the next level and have a deep playoffs run.
However, there is a stat that raised a lot of eyebrows around the league regarding Rondo and the quality of his teams when he’s on and off the court. NBA analyst Justin Phan shared a graphic that shows that Rondo’s teams are better off without him on the court and this didn’t happen with the Lakers and Hawks. This has happened for the past 10 years.
Rajon Rondo's teams have been better with him off the court in 10 straight seasons. The Clippers just dealt Lou AND picks for him. pic.twitter.com/z9SWY8ROVg
— Justin Phan (@jphanned) March 25, 2021
With the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and the aforementioned Lakers and Hawks, all of these squads have played better when the two-time NBA champion is sitting on the bench.
Playoff Rondo is all that matters to the Clippers
— MCMLXXIV (@SlicktorNewman) March 25, 2021
I watch Celtics vs Lakers in 2008 Finals. Rondo is also a factor the reason they won chips. Dont tell me Rondo is not a plus factor of Lakers bubble chips? pic.twitter.com/hGvgJ5bnjG
— YSX (@YSX_girlfriend) March 26, 2021
You can't tell me he didn't help the Lakers in the Finals.
— Dobbs (@Dobbs024) March 25, 2021
Lakers were better with him off the court in last year's playoffs too.
— Justin Phan (@jphanned) March 25, 2021
Anyone who actually watched the Lakers playoff run last year knows that they dont win banner 17 without Rondo. He quite literally was their 3rd best player.
— Guru (@ChampBronson) March 26, 2021
Man ,regular season is different to playoffs
That's why rondo have 2 rings
That's why call him "playoffrondo"
— Lan (@Lanskie214) March 26, 2021
Judging Rondo off regular season numbers is just not accurate. He’s an entirely different player in playoffs. Good defense and facilitating. They been needing a pg bad. Now they have it.
— Larry Covington (@_Super_Larry) March 25, 2021
They get playoff Rondo with 60% off the regular season Rondo price.
— Alex Klatsky (@aklatsk2) March 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/Zwok_/status/1375159430141128705
PLAYOFF RONDO delete this post fam you lost your mind
— PF || 🎥📽👑📈 (@tendaipfupajena) March 25, 2021
The playoff eye test means more than these stats will tell
— underwoody (@dr_UnderWoody) March 25, 2021
This is not accounting for playoff Rondo tho👀 plus his impact is larger than just what he does on the court
— Bradley Patten (@CoachBradPatten) March 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/cami_killa/status/1375167849673658374
Rondo when the playoffs start pic.twitter.com/bOyDf0TU05
— Ace Panda (@AcePanda83) March 25, 2021
Rondo is that player you can’t base off stats and analytics.
— ClipsOnClips_ (@ClipsOnClips_) March 25, 2021
now do Playoff Rondo
— Doug Kezirian (@DougKezirian) March 25, 2021
You don’t judge rondo off numbers.
— Ramon ♡ (@raycincoo) March 25, 2021
They need a playmaker who will perform in the playoffs, Rondo is that
— Aidan (@amazin_aidan) March 25, 2021
they dealt for playoff rondo
— Matt Severance (@jordanpaytonsn1) March 25, 2021
NBA fans reacted to this and pointed out something that has gotten overlooked around the association: the Clippers want Rondo to improve their level in the postseason, they can afford to lose some games in the regular season if that means they will have a real chance to compete for the championship.
What Rondo brings to the table isn’t displayed on the stat sheets and the Clips are well aware of that. Rajon can be the best move that any team made ahead of the deadline and now we’ll have the chance to see if the Clippers found the piece they needed to make it out of the West.
