Michael Jordan and Larry Bird dominated the league in the 1980s and 1990s. Over the course of their careers, MJ and Bird achieved some of the highest laurels that the league had to offer. Mike and Bird were regarded as two of the most lethal offensive maestros. While the Boston Celtics legend concluded his career with 21,791 points, Jordan went ahead and lodged a grand total of 32,292 points himself. Ultimately, Paul Pierce and LeBron James would surpass them on the all-time scoring list, respectively.
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LeBron James and Paul Pierce are also regarded as legends of the modern NBA. Coincidentally, both these generational talents were assisted by Rajon Rondo as they went on to break records set by Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, respectively.
Back in 2012, during a contest against the Charlotte Bobcats, Paul Pierce surpassed Larry Bird on the all-time Boston Celtics scoring list. As seen in the video below, Rondo dished out a beautiful pass to find a wide-open Pierce. With the crowd riling him up, The Truth ended up drilling the long-range jumper.
Back in 2019, LeBron entered a contest requiring merely 13 points to surpass His Airness on the all-time scoring list. Rondo’s bounce pass allowed LBJ to drive to the basket and finish the tough-and-one.
Rajon Rondo has won titles with Paul Pierce and LeBron James
Rajon Rondo is lauded for being a high-IQ basketball player. The pass-first guard has not won many individual accolades but has had vital contributions in winning two Championships.
As hilarious as it sounds, Rondo is among the very players in the history of the league to play for both franchises of the rivalry – the Celtics and the Lakers. His stints with both spectacular organizations have been successful.
Apart from winning the 2008 title, the 6ft 1″ guard received four All-Star nods. Six seasons after parting ways with the Cs, Rondo helped LeBron James lead the Purple & Gold to the 2020 Championship win.
The California side’s 2020 title run received valuable contributions from numerous players. Rondo was among the veterans who had a solid impact on the team. As discussed on JJ Redicks’ podcast, Rajon Rondo and LBJ already knew the Celtics’ and the Heat’s game plan, giving them an upper hand entering the Finals.
Eventually, the Lakers edged out Jimmy Butler and the Heat in six games to win the 2020 title.
