The Los Angeles Lakers 2020 NBA championship is a major one for the franchise, tying them with their rival Boston Celtics for the most titles in NBA history with 17 apiece.
While Lakers and Celtics fans could argue to the end of time about which franchise is the greatest in league history, there is one thing they can now find mutual agreement on: A love for Rajon Rondo.
The veteran guard made history in helping the Lakers win the 2020 title, becoming the first player – since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960 – to win a championship with both legendary franchises.
Hall of Famer Clyde Lovellette won a title with the Minneapolis Lakers back in 1954, then won back-to-back titles with the Celtics in 1963 and 1964 but Rondo is the first to do it since the Lakers have resided in Los Angeles.
And that wasn't the only way Rondo made history en route to the Lakers title. The savvy floor general embraced and thrived in a reserve role, setting an NBA record for most assists off the bench in a single playoff run in NBA history with 105.
He upped his game when it mattered most – as he's done so often, being dubbed 'Playoff Rondo' – averaging 8.9 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting an uncanny 40.0% from 3-point range after shooting 32.8% from 3 during the regular season. In fact, all of the aforementioned stats were an increase on his regular-season production.
As the Lakers looked to prevent the Miami Heat from forcing a Game 7, Rondo stepped up again in Game 6 to set the tone and help close out the series. He exploded for 13 points in the first half, going 6-for-6 from the field with four rebounds and two assists. He'd carry that momentum into the second half, scoring six more points to finish the game as Los Angeles second-leading scorer with 19 points, shooting 3-for-4 from 3.
His second championship ring adds to an impressive career that may be on the brink of a Hall of Fame case.
Rondo is a four-time All-Star, four-time All-Defensive Team, three-time assist champion and one-time steals champion with one All-NBA selection to boot.
To bolster that resume even more, he ranks 15th all-time in assists and sixth all-time in playoff assists, with it now being more than likely that he'll crack the top-five in playoff assists by the end of his career.
He was vital in helping the Celtics earn their 17th NBA title back in 2008, breaking a 22-year championship drought to give Boston the most championships in league history. Fast forward 12 years and he's still making an impact, helping the Lakers earn their 17th NBA championship to snap a 10-year title drought, which also happened to even the historic franchise with its long-time rival for the most championships in league history.
In being only second player to ever do so with both rival franchises and the first to do it since the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, you cannot tell the story of the two most iconic franchises in NBA history without mentioning Rajon Rondo.
Is that a Hall of Fame resume? You tell me.
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