Whenever Rajon Rondo returns from his calf injury — and it could be on Friday against the Utah Jazz — Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel envisions Rondo being a 25-30 minute rotation player who can quarterback the offense.
Vogel sees Rondo running the offense with Anthony Davis when LeBron James is on the bench getting his rest.
Kyle Kuzma won't play Friday. Frank Vogel seems more confident that Rajon Rondo might play Friday depending on his progress. Vogel said he envisions Rondo as a 25-30 minute rotation player who can quarterback with Davis when LeBron is out.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) October 23, 2019
Last season for the Lakers, Rondo averaged 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 46 games. The four-time All-Star shot 40.5 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from 3-point range and 63.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Rondo is a more traditional point guard than James and already has a strong rapport with Davis. The two were teammates during the 2017-18 season on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Besides being an elite floor general, Rondo will have to make open jumpers for the Lakers this season. Because LeBron and Davis are going to command so much attention when they put their heads down and drive to the basket, Rondo and the rest of the perimeter players on the team have to be ready to knock down open shots.
Rondo is a career 31.5 percent shooter from the 3-point line. Vogel did reveal a few weeks ago that Rondo “has shot the heck out of the basketball from the 3-point line” in offseason workouts. We’ll see if that is the case when Rondo returns from his injury.
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