Rajon Rondo Hopes to Return to the Lakers

Rajon Rondo shuts down retirement rumors after putting up a season-high in assists during a win over the Hornets.

Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers
Getty

Image via Getty/Dylan Buell

Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers

Rajon Rondo's career hasn't quite reached the heights of his championship season with the 2008 Celtics. This year with the Lakers has been riddled with injury and an underwhelming record that'll keep him out of the playoff, so there's a question mark hovering the 33-year-old's future in Los Angeles. 

Rondo proved he can still play at a high level in his 17-assist performance in the Lakers' Friday victory over the Charlotte Hornets. But does he even want to be a Laker?

"Absolutely," Rondo said to ESPN. "I mean, the only way we can go from here is up."

Rondo spent a good chunk of the year on the sidelines nursing a finger injury. Still, coach Luke Walton thinks Rondo's locker room presence has an "invaluable" impact on the team's young core.

"His leadership has been great," Walton explained. "He wants to play all the time. I think he sets a great example for the younger guys and he's watching film before every game, during games. Off days he's in the gym every day working on his craft, studying his opponent.... It's great to have that around when you have as many young guys with their eyes on everything, learning from everything."

Despite all signs pointing to him having a positive impact, the 13th year veteran understands the business of the NBA and how there are no guarantees.

"I don't know what the future holds as far as the summer—if I come back, or who else comes back or if I don't come back," Rondo said. "Those things are out of my control. But at the same time, it's a great organization.... I want to continue, if I can, help this organization grow."

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