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“Couldn’t Even Dream Of”: Lakers’ Rajon Rondo Reacts to Overtaking Larry Bird in All-Time NBA Playoff Record

Published 10/03/2020, 6:45 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers are inching closer to the title. During their Game 2 win against the Heat, NBA veteran Rajon Rondo accomplished a personal milestone, wherein he overtook Larry Bird in a playoff record.

There’s no stopping the purple and gold, who are led by a two-headed beast in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Besides the dynamic duo, the experience and IQ of Rajon Rondo is proving to be a significant boost to the Lake Show.

Rondo came into the finals with an impressive playoff assist record in the bag. Before the finals, Rondo was ninth on the all-time list of players with the most assists in the postseason. The 34-year-old dropped ten dimes in Game 2 of the finals to overtake two legendary players of the league. 

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Rajon Rondo creates playoff history as Lakers take massive 2-0 lead in the finals

Rajon Rondo now has 1,067 assists in the Playoffs and stands in an impressive sixth position on the all-time list. With his efforts in Game 2, Rondo swiftly overtook Celtics legend Larry Bird and current Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash to become the player with the sixth most Playoff assists in NBA history. 

Following the victory, Rondo commented on his massive achievement of passing Larry Bird and said: “Coming from where I’m from – obviously I didn’t grow up with hoop dreams. The past names that I passed in the playoffs from Isiah to Michael to Kobe to Steve to Larry. I couldn’t even dream of that opportunity.”

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USA Today via Reuters

“I’m very fortunate and blessed to continue playing this game for this long. I played with a lot of great teammates that obviously made shots for me. That’s a team award. It’s not really an individual. It is an individual stat, but at the end of the day, you have to do it with your teammates. That’s what makes me play this game.”

It is undeniably an incredible achievement for Rondo, who is just about proving how good he can be with age. His presence helps the Lakers move better on the court, and Rondo is bursting out with 7.2 assists a game in the 2020 bubble Playoffs. 

Rondo’s vintage tribute to Kobe Bryant in Game 2

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The world can never forget Kobe. His memory will live on forever, and for the Lakers, it is extra special. They are determined to win the 2020 championship in honor of the Mamba, and they’re on the right track. 

Kobe has sported some beautiful sneakers during his playing career, and Rondo decided to wear one of them for Game 2. The Mamba wore “Reebok Question Kobe Bryant PE” during the 2002/03 NBA season, a year after his initial Adidas contract ended. 

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Rondo rocked the same sneakers in Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals, which sparked a heartwarming smile in every Kobe fan. The 2020 Lakers are a team on a mission, and Kobe Bryant serves as the main inspiration behind it. 

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Written by:

Arjun Athreya

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Arjun Athreya is a senior writer at Essentially Sports and has been contributing since early 2020. Having developed an avid interest in sports at an early age, he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. Arjun manages the Golf division and its content, and primarily covers news pertaining to the NBA as well.
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