Rajon Rondo Was Beat by an Eighth Grader

I don't want to completely disparage Rajon Rondo -- the kid definitely has some upside -- but he's clearly the weakest link in the Celtics' new-look starting five. Why? Quite simply, he can't shoot. Like, at all. From Jackie MacMullen in the Boston Globe:

One day last spring, I was waiting to do a postpractice interview with Pierce, who was receiving treatment in the training room. There were only two players left in the gym: Rondo and Doc Rivers's eighth-grade son, Austin. Rondo, his shirt off, had assistant coach Kevin Eastman feed him the ball for 100 jumpers. With nobody guarding him, Rondo hit 52 of them. Minutes later, Doc's son duplicated the drill -- only he knocked down 70.

A professional basketball player was beat by an eighth-grade kid? Now, I'm guessing Rivers' son inherited a set of stellar shooting genes, but still, he's in eighth grade! But fear not, Celtics fans, Rondo is striving to improve ... kind of:

Shooting is all about two things: confidence and repetition. This summer, Rondo said, he has not allowed himself to quit for the day until he's buried 250-280 jumpers.

Wait, is "250-280 jumpers" supposed to sound impressive? I'm sorry, but it's not, especially with Gilbert Arenas on a mission to make 100,000 jumpers this summer, including 1,500 a day. Rondo is settling for less than a one-fifth of the makes Arenas does each day -- and Arenas is already good! No wonder the team is willing to go after 41-year-old guards who can still shoot -- I wouldn't be surprised if Reggie Miller works on his shot more than Rondo does even two years into retirement.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-08-2007 @ 5:06PM

Dizzo said...

Slight edit for you - It is Doc Rivers' son in the article quote.

8-08-2007 @ 5:23PM

El Maestro said...

So did Rondo get schooled by Ainge's kid, or by the son of Doc Rivers? While you failed to clearly identify one of the main components of the story, you did manage to focus on crucial aspects such as sweaty young men being bare-chested. Is Les Nessman your career role model?

8-08-2007 @ 5:37PM

Matt W. said...

Ainge/Rivers thing fixed guys -- thanks for catching it.

8-08-2007 @ 5:45PM

Sean said...

Just confirms this article: http://www.redsarmy.com/rondojumper.htm

8-08-2007 @ 5:53PM

Matt said...

How dare you question Rondo. Beware the wrath of Celtics Nation. :-D

8-08-2007 @ 7:00PM

SHOTT3R said...

Call me crazy, but if you're only making 52% in UNGUARDED jumpers during a DRILL, you aren't even fit for D-league.

Let's just hope he was having a bad day, and be glad he won't actually need to do any shooting during the season.

8-08-2007 @ 10:28PM

bruce said...

You should obviously trade for Austin Croshere as the starting point guard then.

Seriously, this is the stupidest thing I've read in a long time. The whole point of being in the NBA is not that you can do everything well, but that you have an exceptional talent that causes matchup problems. Rondo has speed and penetration (and defense) that will create trouble in the open floor and in the half court he just has to get the ball to the best positioned of the three exceptionally capable scorers.

8-09-2007 @ 3:56AM

Side said...

The kid was in 8th grade, not a 8 year-old. I don't see what the big deal is. Rondo doing a drill after practice (when legs are tired) hits 56% of his jumpers. The Son of an NBA player/coach probably has been doing this drill every day after supper since he was able to walk. Coaches sons can always do sh*t like this better than players. THEY ARE THE COACH's SON!

And, if Rondo is such a bad shooter, he probably has to shoot around 1,000 a day to sink the 250. It's the shooting them that is important.

Matt, you are slipping. two thumbs down.

8-09-2007 @ 12:22PM

Loren said...

Gilbert Arenas was beaten in 1-on-1 by a 16-year-old at the 2004 adidas superstar camp in China. Granted Arenas probably wasn't trying, and Luo Zhi was probably 28.

Report: http://nbadraft.net/shanghai003.asp

8-09-2007 @ 9:50PM

snake said...

Rondo will be just fine, he's as fast as Tony Parker and shoots as good as Avery Johnson ever did. The Celtics aren't looking for 20 a game out of him, more like 10 and 10 assists. Rondo will lead all point guards in rebounding and steals this year!