The love affair between Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Rajon Rondo continues, as the two former rivals are enjoying being on the same team after battling each other for so many years.

James and Rondo are two of the brightest minds to have ever played the game. On both sides of the ball, the two future Hall of Famers can see a play before it happens and help their teammates by being vocal.

James and Rondo will undoubtedly be the key cogs for the Lakers' defense this season, and it will start with Rondo, who will be tasked to slow down elite point guard after elite point guard in the rugged Western Conference night after night. Rondo will surely be up to the task, but James says it's his job to have Rondo's back if players are able to get past his point guard on the perimeter.

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“You try to be the second line of defense behind him,” James said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I try to be the Derrick Brooks to his Warren Sapp, he is the guy right there in the front and he is going to get in there and then if guys are able to break the first line, I try to be that Derrick Brooks right there, that second line of defense. Or that Ray Lewis to the Ed Reed. So at the end of the day, we want to protect each other. With Rondo being the point of attack, it is my job as the safety or linebacker to protect him.”

Rondo has been a pest on the defensive end throughout his 12-year career, while James is one of the best shot blockers at the small forward position. The Lakers have a really young team outside of James and Rondo. It's going to be interesting to see how this season plays out. There will definitely be a lot of growing pains in Los Angeles this year, but with James and Rondo as the leaders, the ship should be stable for the most part.