Rajon Rondo reportedly got LeBron James to guarantee his minutes in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals

Rajon Rondo narrates how he forced LeBron James to stick up for his minutes and role to head coach Frank Vogel.

Rajon Rondo reportedly got LeBron James to guarantee his minutes in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals

Rajon Rondo and LeBron James won the bubble championship for the Los Angeles Lakers

The 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers had one of the more dominant playoff runs of this century. The play of Anthony Davis and LeBron James in Orlando was downright unstoppable. Davis led the team in scoring and was its best defender. James, meanwhile, was its bailout offensive option and its connector on both ends. Many people believe that Rajon Rondo was likely the third best performer on the team when played.

LeBron James went looking for high-IQ players who could play with him the moment he joined Los Angeles. Rajon Rondo, who had been teammates with Davis in New Orleans for two seasons, was the first player he recruited. The former Celtics guard and talisman was way past his prime when he arrived in LA. However, he became an instrumental member of the title-winning squad, playing the facilitator role impeccably while coming off the bench.

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With head coach Frank Vogel opting to play James as his point guard alongside Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green in their starting lineup, Rondo found his role substantially diminished as he also competed with fellow former Celtic Avery Bradley for playing time. However, the former assists leader found his groove during two playoff series, playing pivotal roles against Houston and Denver.

Yet, Vogel distrusted his defensive abilities given the high defensive demands he had for each starter on his teams. This is how Rondo came to be on the bench during the Lakers’ game 5 loss to Miami in the Finals. Rondo, who fancied himself as a connector still at that point, was privately enraged by this decision. He revealed his thought process on a recent podcast appearance.

Before game 6, I was (to LeBron) like ‘Bruh, I need me on the court during the 4th quarter.’ Vogel my guy but I know if Bron look over there and say ‘Aye he need to be in,’ then he’s in.’ You know I didn’t play game 5 and I was feeling some type of way!

Rajon Rondo to Dwyane Wade on a podcast appearance

The Lakers would go on to let crucial members of their championship rotation leave that offseason. They replaced Dwight Howard with Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell, and later on with Andre Drummond. They traded Danny Green for Dennis Schroder. They also let Rajon Rondo leave – he left for the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Clippers in 2020-21.

Rajon Rondo was a thorn in LeBron James’ side before 2018

The biggest and most challenging opposition that LeBron James faced during his Heatles era was against the Boston Celtics. The series between the two Big 3 units in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals was undoubtedly some classic basketball. James was forced to unlock a new level of offensive dominance in the last two games.

Before that, however, James and Rondo went toe to toe with each other. Game two of that series was a certified classic as Rondo hit a 40-burger in vain. The two were also the best players on their respective teams when the Celtics knocked James’ Cleveland Cavaliers out in the 2010 NBA playoffs.

However, one consistent theme for NBA stars and legends over the past few years has been getting to play with various superstars and counterparts from their own generation over the course of their careers. The reuniting of James and Rondo started a great run of Lakers basketball and revitalized the fanbase after five down years.