“I’ve always called Rondo a genius,” shared a legendary point guard in his own right, former Detroit Piston champion floor general Isiah Thomas.
Not to be confused with the nearly-eponymous Celtics star with an “a” after the “s” in the elder Thomas’ name, the former Boston foe earned his Hall of Fame chops giving Banner 17 point guard Rajon Rondo’s former franchise fits in the 1980s.
In the Detroit icon’s estimation, the Kentucky product may one day join him in the Hoops Hall, which he discussed in an interview with Heavy.com’s Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on a recent episode of the “Heavy Live with Scoop B” show.
“Again, our game has been compartmentalized to just these four to five statistical boxes; that we don’t see the knowledge and the PhD that is walking in through the door,” shared Thomas.
“So, we only evaluate and judge players from the neck down; particularly African-American players throughout the history of our game. But Rondo from Day 1 you recognized his genius and IQ in terms of basketball intellect. Rondo is not going to the Hall of Fame because of he’s a great shooter, he’s a great passer or anything like that; Rondo’s going to the Hall of Fame because he’s probably one of the smartest players to play and he’s a champion.”
After adding a second title to his legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers, it seems the former Celtic has at least an outside chance at getting into the lofty company ensconced in Springfield, Massachusetts.
HoF point guard Isiah Thomas supports ex-Celtic Billups hire by Clips https://t.co/qlsJ4Gi918
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 1, 2020
While the assist wizard may not have the gaudiest case to make the Hall of Fame, there are certainly players of lesser impact on the game and on their peers than the former Wildcat.
And fewer still with an intellect akin to Rondo’s widely acknowledged to be among the contemporary league’s greatest basketball minds in terms of seeing the game within the game.
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