Rajon Rondo set high school records for assists and led his basketball team to a 38-0 record. Named a 2004 McDonald's All-American, Rondo enrolled at the University of Kentucky.

Rajon Rondo set a school record with 87 steals in his first season and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, but it soon became apparent he was an uneven fit for that Kentucky team. Head coach Tubby Smith preferred a deliberate, disciplined half-court offense, and Rondo occasionally ignored his instructions in an attempt to speed up the game. He announced his intention to turn pro at the end of his sophomore year.

An exceptionally quick 6'1" playmaker with unusually long arms and big hands, Rondo was considered an intriguing talent. However, he was also a poor shooter, and there were questions about his leadership skills. Rondo was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics.

Rondo began his NBA career as the Celtics' third-string point guard. In a familiar refrain, head coach Doc Rivers was initially put off by Rondo's stubbornness, but he soon grew to appreciate the rookie's basketball IQ and competitive nature. Rondo was given the chance to start regularly in the season's second half, and played well enough to make the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Rondo helped the Celtics win a league-best 66 games and beat the rival Los Angeles Lakers in six games to win the NBA championship. By the time the 2009-10 season was under way, Rondo was clearly on equal footing with his vaunted "Big Three" teammates. Named to the All-Star team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time, he led the league with 2.3 steals per game, and pushed the Celtics to the brink of another NBA championship before they lost the finals in seven games to the Lakers.

Rondo topped the NBA with an average of 11.7 assists per game during the 2011-12 regular season, and was leading the league in that category again when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in January 2013. He underwent surgery a few weeks later, with the goal of regaining his place among the NBA's top point guards at the start of the following season.

Although considered intensely private, the basketball star has proven to be generous with his time. In 2011, he launched the Rajon Rondo Foundation to provide children living in low-income areas with safe, reliable resources and hope for the future. He also runs an annual summer camp for youth basketball players.

NBA, Basketball, Athlete, Kentucky, Sports