With superstar players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster, the Los Angeles Lakers are already being viewed as one of the more dangerous teams in the NBA for the 2019-20 campaign. Having two All-Stars is certainly nice, but the Lakers will also have several important role players, including Rajon Rondo.

Rondo joined the Lakers in July 2018. Most expected him to serve a mentorship role, as he is an established veteran point guard. He has accepted that role, but he's also hoping to be an important asset on both ends of the floor, whether he starts or comes off the bench:

“You've got a couple of young guards on this team in (Alex) Caruso and Quinn Cook,” a reporter said to Rondo earlier this month. “Do you have a lot of interaction with those guys?”

“I do,” Rondo replied. “We talk from time to time. I told both of them, as much knowledge as I can give them, I'm willing to share.”

Rondo has always been a gifted passer, and he'll have James, Davis and others waiting for open looks or cuts to the hoop. This will likely equate to a lot of assists for the former Kentucky Wildcat.

Some of this ball distribution was on display Thursday, when the Lakers squared off against the Brooklyn Nets in China. Rondo logged 24 minutes in the 114-111 loss, notching 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field (2-of-3 from beyond the arc), six assists and five rebounds.

That outside shooting will also be important. Rondo has never been known as a shooter, but he has quietly improved his long-range shooting over the years. With LeBron and Davis getting so much attention, the veteran point guard will have to knock down open looks from beyond the arc, especially because defenses will likely dare him to shoot.

Rondo also brings an element of toughness to the Lakers' roster. Simply put, he's not a man known to back down. He'll need to temper his emotions, though, as Los Angeles will need his services to make a championship run.

James and Rondo have had their differences in the past, as they were once enemies in the Eastern Conference — LeBron with the Heat and Cavs, Rajon with the Celtics. That's all in the past now:

“One of the smartest guys I’ve ever competed against,” James said in 2018, via LeBron Wire. “One of the most competitive guys I’ve ever competed against. He knows everything on the floor, he knows everything that you’re doing. Everything the team is doing, all their strengths and weaknesses. And sometimes you see yourself in someone on the opposing side, that’s where you might think it would be crazy if you ever teamed up and joined forces with that type of cerebral mentality where you know what’s going on on the floor every possession.”

While Rondo hasn't been the most consistent player in recent years, the Lakers are hoping his veteran guile and “Playoff Rondo” persona will be an X-factor in 2019-20.