First-time NBA champion coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers recently opened up about an unforgettable exchange he had with veteran point guard Rajon Rondo after the Lakers clinched the title on Sunday against the Miami Heat.
Vogel shared how Rondo approached him to tell his coach what it meant for him to be part of this group:
“He took a moment to just thank me for believing in him and, to me, that's one of the best moments as a coach,” Vogel said on ESPN's The Lowe Post podcast with Zach Lowe (h/t Blake Harper of Yardbreaker). “When you show confidence and belief in someone and they reward you with great play and in this situation, leading to a championship? That's just special and something I'll never forget and above all else, that's what you do this job for. For those types of moments.”
The Lakers are Rondo's fifth different team since leaving the Boston Celtics in the 2014-15 season, and for his part, the veteran point guard is just very appreciative of the role Vogel assigned him with in L.A. Rondo is no longer the All-Star he once was, but Vogel knew exactly what to expect from the 34-year-old. This partnership blossomed beautifully, and it resulted in Rondo playing some of his best basketball in recent years.
More importantly, Rondo played a key role for the Lakers as they went on a historic title run in what was a tumultuous campaign, to say the least.
It is worth noting that Rondo is expected to opt out of his deal in the offseason, and while he appears to have found a home in L.A., it remains to be seen if he will remain a Laker next term. We know LeBron James and Anthony Davis would surely love to have him back.
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