In Southern California, a former NBA champion is taking his first steps towards a new career in coaching. Rajon Rondo, a two-time NBA title winner, has joined the Milwaukee Bucks as a guest coach for their training camp at UC Irvine. His former head coach, Doc Rivers, extended the invitation, and Rondo has been assisting players during practice and taking notes on the sidelines.
Rondo, who formally retired from a 16-season NBA career in April, hopes to become an NBA coach one day. He believes his playing experience and ability to understand the game from different perspectives will serve him well in his new role. “There’s a lot of factors that go into coaching,” Rondo said. “You just can’t say, I’m going to be a coach, and then everything works out and that’s how it happens.”
Rivers, who coached Rondo for seven seasons, praised his former point guard’s intelligence and ability to build team chemistry. “He’s the smartest player I’ve ever coached — and not just smart,” Rivers said. “He knows when to and when not to say stuff. He’s a great team builder.”
Rondo has been learning the ropes of coaching, from attending morning meetings to watching hours of film. He’s also been studying the approaches of coaches from the nine teams he played for during his NBA career. “There’s a different type of respect that you have when you look at it from their perspective,” Rondo said. “Obviously, they’re making decisions based on only one thing and that’s just trying to win.”
As Rondo navigates his new role, he’s aware that patience will be key. He’s heard that criticism before, but he believes his experience as a father of three has taught him the importance of patience. “Kids create patience, and then as you continue to live life, you develop patience as well,” he said.
Rondo still gets the urge to step onto the court as a player, but he’s committed to his new path. “I’m here to help, and that’s what I can offer,” he said. With his playing days behind him, Rondo is focused on finishing his bachelor’s degree in human communications at the University of Kentucky and learning as much as he can about coaching.
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