Rajon Rondo makes championship with Los Angeles Lakers a priority



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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Rajon Rondo has a unique vision of the rich history of the Lakers-Celtics, and the playmaker is now determined to make his mark on the historic rivalry of the NBA.

"I need another ring," said Rondo after Monday's training. "It's simple – I want to be the first to win for the two most historic franchises that have ever used a basketball, so I have one in Boston and I'd love to have one." one with this organization. "

If Rondo were to reach his goal, he would become the second player to win a title with both franchises. At the beginning of the season, 33 players played for the Celtics and Lakers franchises. Only Clyde Lovellette won a title with both teams.

Rondo signed a one – year contract with the Lakers in the offseason and he spoke with praise of the franchise a few days before the opening of the regular season.

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"You wait for some teams, some franchises [to be like this]"continued Rondo, who plays for his sixth team in his thirteenth season." Obviously, playing for Boston was probably the best experience I've ever seen since. [been in the league]. And now here. Obviously, all the teams I have played for have excellent organizations, but no one touches on that. "

As to whether Rondo can achieve his goal of winning a ring with the two iconic franchises, the leader likes what he's seen from this Lakers training so far.

"I love what I saw," he said. "We had dogs, we had a lot of dogs, we had a lot of young talents, and we had the best player in the world, we had good chemistry, a good mix, and we had to find a way to put it together. "

"I love our young guys, our commitment, their way of studying the game, their willingness to learn.I was saying to Bron the other day that we were in the plane and I've never seen a damn close to 12 guys watching a movie team, I have not seen so many guys combined in the last four [or] five seasons, I think. So, it was very refreshing to see. Understand that this team is committed. "

It's unclear who will leave for the Lakers for the opening of Thursday's season at the Portland Trail Blazers, but coach Luke Walton said Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had started behind the scenes during practice Monday.

All indications are that this pre-season has indicated Rondo as a starting point on Lonzo Ball. LeBron James, Brandon Ingram and JaVale McGee should be Lakers runners in court.

Walton said that if he chose to start Rondo on Ball, it would not necessarily be because Ball started late in the camp after the team released its second-place finish last year following a knee following a left meniscus injury. Ball just returned to the game last week when he played in the last two preparatory games of the Lakers.

"Whether Lonzo starts or not, it will depend on where our team stands and what works for us right now," Walton said. "He looks great and he continues to play better and better, we had another strong day today … He still needs to be in better shape, but he comes back to what he has to be."

During the pre-season, Rondo gave the Lakers everything they hoped for when they signed it: leadership and field experience and mentoring for young players like Ball.

Rondo, meanwhile, claims that the Lakers may have been the most friendly organization for which he played.

"I mean, it's clearly an organization whose players are the first activity," Rondo said. "I can not say that this is not the best I played for, as far as the staff are concerned, they are great – they are always very welcoming when you walk in the door. all the time, they speak. " They are very polite. They ask if we can do something for you. [Johnson]to Rob [Pelinka]they are always trying to encourage you.

"Or whatever you need as a player, he is always ready to give it to you or find a way to help you, so off the field, on the ground, stopped by the police, TMZ, I meaning anything, they are always there to try to find a backup solution or improve things for their team, their players and the organization. "

Rondo also praised his new head coach.

"He's a champion, he's a champion," Rondo said. "He's been around for a long time, he's been around so many great players, even [those who played] Some 30 or 40 years ago he was dating these guys. So his behavior and casualness fit perfectly into the management of the dynamics of this organization. "

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