INTERVIEW: RAJON RONDOInterview by: Jeff McMenamin HTV: Tell me about life growing up in Louisville. RONDO: I'd say pretty normal. I played sports, had a lot of friends. Nothing out of the ordinary. HTV: Were there any Louisville area parks / rec centers you played at as a kid? RONDO: One called Walnut Street and also Saint Stevens Park. HTV: You played for the Derek Smith All-Stars during your AAU days, correct? RONDO: Yeah I played for the Derek Smith All-Stars. Besides me nobody else made it to the League. I wasn't even the best on my team at the time but nobody made it to the League but me. HTV: You played high school ball first at Eastern High School in Louisville and then at traditional basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy. Talk to me about those experiences? RONDO: Eastern was fun because I got to play with a lot of guys who I grew up with and as far as Oak Hill that was the best because I got to play with Aaron Scott, DayShawn Wright, Brian Johnson and it was fun to play with all of them and I also had a great time traveling. ** **Editor's Note : As a senior, Rondo helped lead Oak Hill to the 2004 mythical national high school title. He also left Oak hill as the school's all-time leader in assists and was selected as a McDonald's All-American in 2004. HTV: What went into your decision to play college ball at Kentucky instead of Louisville? RONDO: I wanted to go to Kentucky right off the bat and I also thought of going to Louisville, but I didn't want to be that close to home. At Kentucky I would be close to home, but not too close to home. HTV: What was it like to play for Tubby Smith (Then the Kentucky head coach.)? RONDO: He's a great coach who is defensive minded and studies the game. He's competitive and he wants to win. HTV: You watched as Kentucky teammate Patrick Sparks hit the shot to send your 2005 NCAA Tournament Regional Final game into overtime against Michigan State, what was that moment like? RONDO: It was a great moment and it gave us a chance to get to the Final Four although we fell short. I was very excited when it happened. HTV: Despite playing great at Kentucky you were picked 21st in the 2006 NBA Draft by Phoenix and then traded to the Celtics. At the time was that chain of events disheartening for you? RONDO: Not really, but a little bit. I just wanted to get drafted and it was only one night and I knew I just had to step up. HTV: With Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West already on the Celtics you spent most of your rookie year on the bench. In teh second half of the season you started getting some minuets. Finally, towards the end you became a starter. What was it like making that transition from little used reserve to starter in one year? RONDO: It wasn't hard but it wasn't easy. I just had to make the adjustment at going up against starting point guards every night as opposed to what I was used to with back-up guys. HTV: Danny Ainge had faith that you were the point guard of the future for this team and shipped out Sebastian Telfair in the deal that brought Kevin Garnett to Boston. He also moved Delonte West in a trade with Seattle that brought in Ray Allen. Those trades made the Celtics into a contender in the East. So were you nervous at all with the expectations the organization was putting on you with those moves? RONDO: No. I've been a point guard my whole life and a starter my whole life. That first year it took me a little while to get in that role, but once I got there it was natural and I felt real comfortable regardless of who I was playing with. HTV: What made that 2007-08 Celtics team so special? RONDO: We got along on and off the court and we knew our rotations. We just followed our coach's orders and it worked. HTV: How did holding the NBA championship trophy feel? RONDO: It was a good feeling, but it's in the past. I'm trying to forget about it and just focus on getting another one. HTV: Your performance in the 2008 NBA Finals, especially in Game 6, was admired throughout the League. What was that feeling like? RONDO: It's great to get respect from the players that you play against every day. It made me more confident for last season (2008-09) and I'm just continuing to work hard and get better. HTV: How tough was it for you guys losing KG to injury and then not being able to defend your championship last season? RONDO: It was tough but we had to move on. It's part of the game. Everybody is not 100 percent for a whole season and unfortunately Kevin was not healthy at all last year and there's more to life then just basketball. He took his time off which was needed and we tried to do our best without him, but it wasn't too successful. HTV: Despite not making it to the 2099 NBA Finals, you still got to play in one of the most memorable playoff match-ups ever against the Bulls in last year's Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Was it as exciting as a player as it was for the fans? RONDO: At the end of the day it was exhausting but it was fun to be a part of. Going up against Derrick and the Bulls was a lot of fun and the best thing about it was being able to come away with the win. HTV: The East is very tough this year with talented teams like the Cavs and Magic front runner for a trip to the Finals. The Celtics have kind of been left out of conversation regarding who may make the NBA Finals this year. What are your thoughts on that subject? RONDO: Nothing. (It means) we beat ourselves if we don't win it. I don't think anybody can beat us. Atlanta swept us already, Cleveland is up two to one (now 3 to 1), Orlando is up two to one, but at the end of the day I think that we can beat any of those teams (in a playoff series). HTV: Are you hoping for a Celtics vs. Lakers NBA Finals -- Part II? RONDO: I don't care who we play in the Finals.
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