Los Angeles Lakers backup point guard Rajon Rondo is one of the smartest players in NBA history, but Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs, Rondo didn't show off that high IQ.
The Lakers were down 108-105 with the ball and 15.9 seconds left in regulation. LeBron James caught the ball at the top of the key and then made a beautiful pass to Rondo, who cut toward the basket.
Rajon Rondo had a wide-open layup. There was no one around him. Instead, the veteran guard decided not to take the shot, and dribbled the ball back out to the perimeter with the Lakers TV broadcast guy saying, “What is he doing?”
Rondo passed it to Josh Hart, who then gave it to James. LeBron took a tough step-back 3-pointer that didn't go in, and the Lakers lost, falling to 2-4 on the season.
This was Rajon Rondo's first game back after serving a three-game suspension for spitting on and punching Houston Rockets All-Star point guard Chris Paul. Rondo played 29 minutes and finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists while shooting 4-of-8 from the field, 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
Had Rondo made that layup, the Lakers would've down by just one point. They then could foul the Spurs and hope San Antonio misses one free throw. Even if the Spurs make both free throws, the Lakers would've been only down three again. For someone as smart as Rajon Rondo is, it's baffling to see him make a bonehead play like that in crunch time.
Follow Us
Subscribe