Kentucky Great Rajon Rondo Working to Join John Calipari’s Staff, per Report

The veteran point guard last played in the NBA last season.

After a 16-year career, Rajon Rondo hasn’t played in the NBA this season and it seems like he already has lined up the next phase of his career. Jack Pilgrim of Kentucky Sports Radio reports Rondo could join John Calipari’s staff at Kentucky as a student assistant beginning in the 2023–24 season.

Rondo went to college at Kentucky for two seasons between 2004 and ’06, before Calipari joined the program. While at Lexington, Rondo played in 68 games and averaged 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists on his way to being a first round pick in the NBA draft.

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Starting in Boston, Rondo played for nine teams over the course of 16 years in the NBA, primarily with the Celtics. He won titles in both Boston and Los Angeles, but he’s played for seven different teams since 2015 as a journeyman point guard. His experience as a veteran leader over the past several years makes it so the transition from player to coach shouldn't be too difficult.

Rondo last played in the NBA last season, playing in 39 games over the course of the season while splitting his time between the Lakers and Cavaliers. While he hasn’t officially retired, Rondo appears ready to enter coaching as he approaches his 37th birthday.