BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER RAJON RONDO PLAYES FOR THE BOSTON CELTICS IN THE NBA : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS"

                     BLACK               SOCIAL             HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                        Rajon Rondo was born on February 22, 1986, in Louisville, Kentucky. Despite occasionally antagonizing his coaches, Rondo proved an intelligent and gifted basketball player in high school and college. He led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 2008, and cemented his place among the game's best point guards in ensuing seasons.

Quotes

"Everybody wants to score, score, score, so I want to pass. I like to be different. I could never be a follower."

– Rajon Rondo

Early Years

Rajon Pierre Rondo was born on February 22, 1986, in Louisville, Kentucky, to William Sr. and Amber Rondo. William Sr. left the family when Rondo was 7, but Amber kept her four children in line despite working a grueling graveyard shift at the local Philip Morris factory.

Although Rondo initially preferred football and baseball, he turned his attention to basketball at Eastern High School. Setting a tone that would be repeated in his ascent to the game's highest level, the headstrong Rondo clashed with Coach Doug Bibby before the two developed a mutual trust. He averaged more than 27 points and seven assists per game as a junior, and led Eastern High to the championship of the Louisville Invitational Tournament.

Rondo transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, where he set school records for assists and led the basketball team to a 38-0 record. Named a 2004 McDonald's All-American, he enrolled at the University of Kentucky.

Wildcat Wild Card

Rajon Rondo set a school record with 87 steals in his first season and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, but it soon became apparent he was an uneven fit for that Kentucky team. Head coach Tubby Smith preferred a deliberate, disciplined half-court offense, and Rondo occasionally ignored his instructions in an attempt to speed up the game. He announced his intention to turn pro at the end of his sophomore year.

An exceptionally quick 6'1" playmaker with unusually long arms and big hands, Rondo was considered an intriguing talent. However, he was also a poor shooter, and there were questions about his leadership skills. Rondo was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics.

Celtic Pride

Rondo began his NBA career as the Celtics' third-string point guard. In a familiar refrain, head coach Doc Rivers was initially put off by Rondo's stubbornness, but he soon grew to appreciate the rookie's basketball IQ and competitive nature. Rondo was given the chance to start regularly in the season's second half, and played well enough to make the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Prior to the 2007-08 season, Boston acquired veteran stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to team up with high-scoring swingman Paul Pierce. Many believed the team's lofty goals would be sabotaged by the inconsistent play of its young point guard, but Rondo proved up to the task with his ability to get to the basket and deliver passes to the "Big Three" of Garnett, Allen and Pierce. Rondo helped the Celtics win a league-best 66 games and beat the rival Los Angeles Lakers in six games to win the NBA championship.



 By the time the 2009-10 season was under way, Rondo was clearly on equal footing with his vaunted "Big Three" teammates. Named to the All-Star team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time, he led the league with 2.3 steals per game, and pushed the Celtics to the brink of another NBA championship before they lost the finals in seven games to the Lakers.

Rondo topped the NBA with an average of 11.7 assists per game during the 2011-12 regular season,

and was leading the league in that category again when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in January 2013. He underwent surgery a few weeks later, with the goal of regaining his place among the NBA's top point guards at the start of the following season.

Personal Life

Rondo remains close to his mother and siblings. He has two children with his fiancée, Ashley Bachelor: daughter Ryelle and son Rajon Jr.

Although considered intensely private, the basketball star has proven to be generous with his time. In 2011, he launched the Rajon Rondo Foundation to provide children living in low-income areas with safe, reliable resources and hope for the future. He also runs an annual summer camp for youth basketball players.