In the Los Angeles Lakers’ run to the 2020 NBA Championship, the team had a host of important role players surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Arguably none was more important, or hit bigger shots in that postseason run, than Rajon Rondo.

The point guard is known as one of the most intelligent players to ever step foot on a basketball court and that paired perfectly with LeBron and Davis that season. Rondo recently announced his official retirement from the NBA and James had nothing but praise for the guard.

LeBron called Rondo one of the best players he ever teamed up with while adding that he told him that they could win a championship if they ever teamed up, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“One of the best players I ever played with. Obviously his IQ is out of this world. I was very lucky to get to team up with him at that point when I was here in L.A. Obviously him coming to L.A. and joining the Lakers, I was ecstatic about that. I knew what we could accomplish together. ‘Do always talked about how if he ever teamed up with me, he knew we could win a championship and we did that. Being a fierce competitor throughout my career when he was in Boston, obviously our battles that we had when I was in Cleveland and going to Miami, so he got everything out of his career and more. Two-time champion, multiple All-Stars, I think a couple years he maybe led the league in assists or was up there. Just a spectacular player.”

LeBron praises Radjon Rondo, reminisces about title run

Rondo was well past his prime by the time he joined LeBron on the Lakers. But he still was a key contributor to the championship squad, averaging 7.1 points per game and five assists per game as a role player. He also shot 41.8 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from 3-point range.

But it’s clear that James appreciates the time he got to spend with Rondo during the latter portion of the point guard’s career. As LeBron alluded to, the two aspired to win a championship together and they accomplished just that, all while the world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After leaving the Lakers and joining the Hawks and later the Clippers, Rondo returned to the Lakers for the 2021-22 season. He played in 18 games before joining the Cavs for his final 21 games. Rondo hadn’t played in the NBA since then.

Rondo had a solid career and even managed to play alongside other greats such as Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Garnett in addition to LeBron.