In his brand new podcast with JJ Redick, LeBron James had a lot to say about his former championship teammate, Rajon Rondo. When asked by Redick which teammate he’s had who has demonstrated high basketball IQ, James didn’t hesitate to answer with Rondo and gave an interesting answer on why he’s not coaching at the NBA level (The Mind Games Podcast – 25:43):
“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,” said James. “Who wants to deal with these rich entitled guys all the time?”
Professional athletes are notoriously hard to deal with and NBA players are no different. As an NBA veteran for over 20 years, LeBron James knows this more than most, and it’s no surprise that his co-host JJ Redick (who he exchanged important knowledge with) agreed with his statement.
In their eyes, it takes a different level of patience to be a coach, when it’s your job to earn the respect and attention of your players while not being on the floor. As a leader on the front lines, James has found a lot of success leading by example and setting the table for his guys but there’s only so far his voice can carry. As a coach, getting players to buy in isn’t as easy.
Traditionally, throughout NBA history, while it’s not uncommon for players to make the jump to coaching after retirement, it has become increasingly rare over the past few years. After the firing of Steve Nash a few years ago, only a few of them remain, including Steve Kerr, Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, and Doc Rivers.
While Rondo may not want the job, he would ironically be the perfect fit for the team, given their current needs and his level of understanding of the game.
Rajon Rondo Would Be A Perfect Coach For The Lakers
As of mid-March, there have been no indications that the Lakers will part ways with Darvin Ham. But if they do decide to replace the head coach, Rajon Rondo could be a suitable answer if he is willing to accept the job.
As a player, Rondo was an elite floor general who was always one step ahead of the competition. He didn’t become teammates with James until later in his career, but it was still early enough for his basketball smarts to get noticed.
As a coach, he could use his basketball IQ to come up with a game plan that maximizes everyone’s strengths and gives them the best position to succeed on any given night. As an added bonus, Rondo already has some experience coaching thanks to his stint with LeBron last summer, when they coached Bronny and Bryce James at the Nike Peach Jam showcase.
For a Lakers team that has been inconsistent all season, they need someone with an advanced understanding of the game, and Rondo is one of the few (like LeBron) who seems to have it. Unfortunately, Rondo doesn’t seem to want the job right now and the Lakers have no choice but to keep riding with Darvin until someone better becomes available.
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