Brian Scalabrine and Rajon Rondo won a championship together during the 2007-08 season with the Boston Celtics and the “White Mamba” says Rondo “is the smartest player I’ve ever played with.”
Speaking to Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio, Scalabrine said he’s excited to see what Rondo and LeBron James can do together with the Los Angeles Lakers this upcoming season.
“I’m really excited for Rajon, especially because he’s the smartest player that I’ve ever played with,” Scalabrine told Robinson. “And I think LeBron is on that level as well. Both guys are brilliant basketball players and speak the same language, so I’m really excited about the two of them hooking up.”
Rajon Rondo signed a one-year, $9 million free agent deal with the Lakers in July. The veteran point guard spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans and averaged 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists during the regular season, shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
During the 2018 playoffs, Rondo took his game to another level. He posted 10.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 12.2 assists per game and helped the Pelicans sweep the Portland Trail Blazers in the first-round.
Rondo and second-year guard Lonzo Ball will be competing to earn the starting point guard spot in training camp. Rondo said in July he’s not worried about who starts and is looking forward to co-existing with Ball.
“I’m not so much caught up in starting and things like that,” Rondo said. “I’m caught up in just winning a championship. From what I’ve seen of Lonzo, I’m excited to get a player at that age and try to help him as much as I can, as far as understanding the game and getting his game up to speed at a high level. Especially with the amount of pressure now the organization has every night, we’re going to get guys’ best shots. As far as understanding that night in and night out, that’s what separates good players from the great players.”
