Over the course of his illustrious career, LeBron James has had several fierce rivalries. But, none have matched the intensity of his rivalry with the Boston Celtics during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Early in his career, the Celtics denied LeBron the opportunity to win a title on several occasions. The animosity the two entities shared was palpable.

However, in a recent interview, ex-Celtic Rajon Rondo reminisced about being recruited to join the Lakers. His unexpected revelation about LeBron James has caught many Celtics fans off guard.

Rondo recalls his time with the Lakers

Former adversary of LeBron, Rajon Rondo made an appearance on the View from the Rafters podcast. During a conversation, Rondo recalled being recruited by the Lakers. He said, “I remember, I was in Louisville, standing in the living room in front of the TV and I was like if I get a chance to play with LeBron, I will win another championship.” Although Rondo was an integral part of the 2008 Celtics, he had to join the Lakers because he had only two options that offseason. Ultimately, the decision proved beneficial for both parties, with Rondo securing his second championship ring and the Lakers matching the Celtics’ record with their seventeenth NBA title.

Rondo played an integral role for the Lakers during their title run in 2020. He particularly excelled in the playoffs, earning the moniker of “Playoff Rondo” due to his outstanding performances during that postseason. He became just the second player, after Clyde Lovellette, to win an NBA title with both the Celtics and the Lakers. Rondo recorded 105 assists from the bench even after missing the entire first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Following the win, Rondo stated that, “This championship is definitely a hell of a feeling and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” 

A title win like no other

The unique nature of the 2019-20 season stems from the unprecedented circumstances under which the Lakers clinched the championship that year. The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the favorites for the title. The prospect of facing LeBron and Anthony Davis was a daunting task for their competitors. However, the season was halted in March 2020 because of Covid-19. Basketball fans and the public were confronted with a unique situation that had never been encountered before. It would be an understatement to suggest that the NBA was in unchartered territory.

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On July 7, 2020, the NBA recommenced its activities within a confined environment at Disney World, featuring empty arenas. This period became widely recognized as the Orlando Bubble. The Lakers won the NBA title that season. However, many analysts remarked that this championship should have an asterisk beside it because of the empty arenas. But now, my players have come out and stated that the 2019-20 season was one of the most mentally taxing seasons. Which side of the debate are you on? Let us know in the comments below!

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