Rajon Rondo On What It Takes To Beat LeBron James In The Playoffs: “It’s Gonna Take All Five Guys On The Floor, The Coaching Staff, The Waterboy, Everybody”

• LeBron James and Rajon Rondo have faced each other in key clashes during their career

• James emerged superior in terms of performance even if the Celtics got the better of him twice

• James and Rondo played together for the Lakers later

Rajon Rondo is one of those players who has seen LeBron James up close as an opponent and a teammate, and in one of his interviews, had a comprehensive explanation of how a team could stop LeBron James in the playoffs.

Speaking to JJ Redick on First Take, the two-time NBA champion elaborated on how James was a force in the postseason while also giving his props to the league’s leading scorer.

“That’s a tough question, it takes a lot of talented players around you… a team willing to sacrifice, understanding that the one guy they can’t stop. LeBron will take all five guys on the floor, the coaching staff, the waterboy, everybody.”

“He’s definitely a tough tough force. To get a stop with, he does. He makes his teammates better, he’s a great teammate, he plays unselfishly.”

“Looking at the game now, he went into Boston and gave us 45. You know we thought we had the series under our belt. He came in with a different mindset, put his team on his back, and got the job done. He gets it done in so many different ways. It’s tough to beat a guy like LeBron. But obviously, he’s beatable, but it takes a lot of sacrifice.”

Both Rondo and James had clashed four times against each other in the playoffs when the latter played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. The result is even, but LeBron has a slight edge because he has a 13-12 record in those 25 playoff games.

Here’s a quick look at their skirmishes in the playoffs:

2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)

The 2008 Eastern Conference Finals was the first time Rajon Rondo took on LeBron James in the postseason, and the Celtics won the seven-game series 4-3.

Boston won the first two games, and James had forgettable outings shooting 8 for 42 in Games 1 and 2. But he rediscovered his mojo in the subsequent games, scoring 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists in Game 3. He followed it up with another 21-point performance in Game 4 coupled with 5 rebounds and a stellar 13 assists.

In Game 5, James received meager support from his teammates as Boston had their stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rondo himself chip in with over 20 points each to win 96-89. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ5dQLDbVio

Game 6 was a James show again as he notched up 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists to help the Cavaliers win 74-69 in a low-scoring affair and force a Game 7.

The series final was one of the better contests in that season’s history as Pierce and James had an epic duel that was likened to the Larry Bird vs. Dominique Wilkins contest in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals. But in the end, the Celtics prevailed with a 97-92 win and won the series 4-3. James ended his evening with 45 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Overall, James averaged 26.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks in the series, while Rondo had 10.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks.

2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers  (4-2)

The 2010 Eastern Conference Finals between both these teams went in favor of the Celtics again as they won 4-2. The Cavs’ exit also marked James’ departure to the Miami Heat the following season.

Game 1 saw James lead Cleveland to a 101-93 win with 35 points, 7 rebounds, and as many assists, while Rondo had 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 12 assists. The Celtics bounced back to win Game 2.

Game 3 at the TD Garden witnessed another masterclass from James as he poured in 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. The series then went back and forth as Boston won Game 4. They later went on to win Games 5 and 6 to seal the series 4-2.

Rondo’s performances in the season were better than his numbers in the 2008 contest against the Cavaliers, as he averaged 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 11.8 assists, and 1.8 steals. It would also be the last time Rondo and his team got the better of James.

On his part, James averaged 26.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks from six games.

2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (4-1)

Much of the hype around the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals centered around James and his rivalry against the Celtics, who had beaten him in the 2008 and 2010 playoffs. The four-time NBA champion even went as far as saying the series was personal.

Miami began on a dominating note to take a 2-0 lead in the series, but the Celtics came back to contention with a 97-81 win in Game 3. It was also the series where Rondo dislocated his left elbow after tangling with Dwyane Wade.

That said, the guard was still instrumental for the Celtics, as he contributed 11 assists in the fourth quarter. But that was as far as Boston would go in the series, as the Heat won Games 4 and 5 to seal the series 4-1.

In his first playoff run with Miami against Boston, James averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks. Rondo, after his injury, slowed down and managed 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.

 2012 Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (4-3)

The 2012 Eastern Conference Finals was labeled as a revenge game for the Celtics. They lost the first two games but rebounded brilliantly in the next three to lead the series 3-2.

But LeBron James changed the tide of the series again with a 45-point display in Game 6. He dished out 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists, staving off elimination with a 98-79 win. To add, the Boston crowd also dissed James by pouring beer on him as he walked out of the court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN17J-KMWnY

It proved to be a costly mistake as ‘The King’ torched Boston in Game 7 with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Maybe the Celtics and their fans learned an important lesson that day, not to mess with a player who was in his prime. The Heat won 4-3.

The series saw James average 33.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Rondo was mercurial for the Celtics averaging 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 11.3 assists, and 1.9 steals.

Rajon Rondo And LeBron James Played Together For The Los Angeles Lakers

In 2018, Rajon Rondo inked a one-year, $9 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played two seasons with the team, and one of them translated to winning his second NBA title. For James, his teammate, it would be his fourth championship after winning two with the Miami Heat and one in his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Rondo eventually went on to play for the Atlanta Hawks and the LA Clippers after his two-year run with the Lakers but returned to the side in 2021. The following season, he was traded to the Cavaliers after LA endured a dismal 33-49 run failing to make the playoffs.

All said, Rondo and the Celtics may have beaten James twice in their four clashes with each other, but each time, the now 38-year-old was a force for all the teams he played for. They couldn’t get past him, and that showed the greatness of the player.

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