Rajon Rondo
No better way to bond than food.Collection: Food
When I had older guys around me, I kind of leaned on them for advice and went through tough times.
I try to give as much advice as possible.
I remember when I was a younger cat, I always thought the veteran guys talked too much.
A leader can't pick and choose when he wants to lead.
Only a couple of guys should be talking in practice.
In Boston, the year we won the championship, guys were so much different in age. You don't have the same lives off the court.
I want to improve my shooting, my free throw shooting, keeping my turnovers down.
I don't feel like we have to be dirty or anything crazy, but as far as competing, there's no limits.
There's a lot of talented guys, but there's not a lot of guys that play the game that right way.
When I'm on the court, I just compete.
When you're off the court, that's when it's time to talk or whatever you want to do. But once it goes up, it's time to compete.
I let my game speak for itself.
I feel like, when I get a certain amount of minutes, and when the coaches allow me to be me on the court, I'm Rondo. There's no 'Playoff Rondo.'
I want to be a general manager, and I want to be a head coach. Definitely both.
First of all, I'm misunderstood in general. I don't mind because I'm very quiet, and I stay to myself. People are going to say what they want to say.
All I care about is winning.
I am who I am. I'm unique. I'm my own self.
I'm a poet.
I thought at first I was going to be an NFL quarterback. I played until I was a freshman in high school.
I want to see myself in a situation where guys want to grow, guys want to get better.
The only thing that can conquer hate is love.
I think that's what we need to do is love one another.
A lot of times, I'll be shooting and think, 'Maybe I should pass.'
I'm a little OCD.
If guys buy into the system, believe in their coach, that goes a long way.
When the coach can get the trust and the confidence of a team to believe in him, and everyone accepts what they're doing for the team, the good and the great of the team, it usually works out.
This is the Boston Celtics. This isn't the Phoenix Suns. No disrespect to any other organization, but you don't hang conference titles. Do we hang going to the conference finals?
I'm obviously very grateful to play for a sports organization like the Boston Celtics.
Every organization, every city is different.
I came into the league traded. So I'm not the only person that goes through trade rumors each year.
The offseason is completely different. You're not at work. You're working out, but you're not at work.
A trade is a trade, but it's different as far as summertime versus in the season.
You don't do charity work for publicity. Well, I know I don't. Everybody's different.
My life is pretty calculated.
I eat at certain times. I got to leave the house at certain times. I shower at certain times before the game.
I'm pretty smart.
Every team I've played on has players-only meetings, players staff meetings, so this is part of the process.
It's an emotional game.
I don't just want to make the playoffs or get to the first or second round. When I compete or make it to the playoffs, I expect to win every time.
Ask any player. You're only as good as your coach allows you to be.
Talk is cheap, but when you go out there and prove it - you're the first one to show up for practice, and you're the last to leave - that's how you lead by example.
The point guard is always the leader on the floor, regardless: the extension out there on the floor for the coach.
What I pride myself on mostly is making the game easier for my teammates.
You can get caught up in making and missing shots, but the game is so much more.
You can't let emotions get involved with what the common goal is: to win. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about.
I play for myself, my family, and the fans.
If given an opportunity, knowing I'll play 36 minutes a night, I can perform at a high level. Spotty or inconsistent minutes, which have been the case in the past, then the numbers fluctuate.
I'm an extension of the coach on the floor.
I think I can run a team pretty well.