Rajon Rondo is a top 5 player in the nba

[Smokeeye123]

So apparently you can be one of the top 5 players in the NBA despite the fact that you can't shoot?

He's barely top 20 if that.

Durant, Lebron, CP3, Wade, Howard, Kobe, Griffin, Rose, Monta Ellis, Carmelo, Josh Smith, Stoudemire, etc.

Um, yeah. Besides the obvious like Rodman, Shaq, Bill Russell, Jason Kidd only became a good shooter in the latter half of his career. Besides that, I do not agree that Rondo can not shoot, since he makes most of the jumpers he takes, he just doesnt take many of them.

If you really do not think Rajon Rondo is a top 20 player then the only way you evaluate greatness is by reading stat sheets (which Rondo also fills up) and are not a very good judge of greatness, sir.

Anyone have a stat for his Jump shot percentage? Yeah, he can make layups, but he is horrible taking jumpshots. Listen, I love Rondo, but when people say he is "TOP 5 BESTEST PLAYER IN DA LEAGUE!!" I laugh. If he was that good and the Celtics were openly shopping him, wouldn't teams be lining up to make bids/sign him?

[footey]

So apparently you can be one of the top 5 players in the NBA despite the fact that you can't shoot?

He's barely top 20 if that.

Durant, Lebron, CP3, Wade, Howard, Kobe, Griffin, Rose, Monta Ellis, Carmelo, Josh Smith, Stoudemire, etc.

Howard is top 5 and he can't shoot. It's more than shooting that determines a player's value.  Howard can rebound, score and block shots. Rondo can dish, de, and rebound.  He is a very valuable commodity. The NBA continues to undervaule him. Heck, Danny Ainge undervalues him by trying to trade him all the time.

[Vermont Green]

Players definitively better:

1. Durant
2. James
3. Wade
4. Bryant
5. Howard
6. Rose
7. Chris Paul
8. Griffin
10. Dirk

Potential Betters:

Possibly Pierce
Possibly Deron Williams
Possibly Carmelo
Possibly Kevin Love

Rondo is top 15.

This is an interesting/reasonable list but keep in mind that the braintrust that is running New Orleans felt that both Eric Gordon and Stephan Curry had more value during the CP3 circus.  I recognize contracts played a role in this but shooting did too.  Rondo has improved, he has more offense this year but if you switched RR and Deron Williams (just for example), I feel no one would be saying that RR is a top 5 player (or top 20).  It may even be tough for him to be an all star this year with Rose (fan's vote) and Williams (coach's pick) ahead of him.

[Rondo_is_better]

Players definitively better:

1. Durant
2. James
3. Wade
4. Bryant
5. Howard
6. Rose
7. Chris Paul
8. Griffin
10. Dirk

Potential Betters:

Possibly Pierce
Possibly Deron Williams
Possibly Carmelo
Possibly Kevin Love

Rondo is top 15.

Griffin, Dirk, Melo, and Howard do not make their teem-mates better. The players I did not just list, do, but most do not to the extent that Rondo does. Rondo can take over a game by scoring, passing, and to a lesser extent, playing defense. Chris Paul and Durant can not do all those things. Therefore, Rondo is in the same class as Lebron, Wade, Kobe, and Derrick Rose. I do think Kevin Love is arguably a top 5 player as well though. You cant argue with the numbers he puts up and the leadership he exhibits.

If you took Howard off the Magic, they'd be the worst team in the league. If you took Melo off the Knicks they'd be a total non-factor. Same goes for Griffin and the Clips. Dirk's playoff performance last year singlehandedly brought a championship to Dallas. They may not distribute and directly provide easy baskets for their teammates, but they make they're teams hugely better. Also, do you remember the Chicago series? Rose got the best of Rondo, noticeably.

[nickagneta]

So apparently you can be one of the top 5 players in the NBA despite the fact that you can't shoot?

Of course you can. Just ask Tim Thomas and hockey fans. 

[4THQTR]

A lot of GM's would take Rondo over Carmelo and Stoudemire because of his defensive abilities.
Eg. Melo can score, but he has averaged less than 3 assists a game for his entire career and doesn't play any defense.

And yet New Orleans wanted no piece of Rondo and preferred the packages from both LA teams for Chris Paul...

I think you are greatly overestimating Rondo's value as most GM's (and fans) are not convinced you can really build around a player with such an inability to shoot.

I think Rondo is top 20, probably top 15 and moving in the right direction though.

[Celtics18]

Players definitively better:

1. Durant
2. James
3. Wade
4. Bryant
5. Howard
6. Rose
7. Chris Paul
8. Griffin
10. Dirk

Potential Betters:

Possibly Pierce
Possibly Deron Williams
Possibly Carmelo
Possibly Kevin Love

Rondo is top 15.

This is an interesting/reasonable list but keep in mind that the braintrust that is running New Orleans felt that both Eric Gordon and Stephan Curry had more value during the CP3 circus.  I recognize contracts played a role in this but shooting did too.  Rondo has improved, he has more offense this year but if you switched RR and Deron Williams (just for example), I feel no one would be saying that RR is a top 5 player (or top 20).  It may even be tough for him to be an all star this year with Rose (fan's vote) and Williams (coach's pick) ahead of him.

It's still a little early for any of this, but D-Will better turn things around quick if he wants to get anywhere near an all-star game this year.

[nickagneta]

For all those saying that if Rondo keeps hitting his FTs he's a different player....well....you all realize he is only shooting 64.7% from the free throw line this year, right? That's like only 2% better than his career average.

I love me some Rondo and definitely agreed with the ESPN ranking this summer that had him top 20. But that's where it stops until he can prove he is an 18-20 PPG scorer while maintaining his assists and steals and rebounds totals while still hitting 50% from the field.

[Juneauz]

top 10

[ianboyextreme]

So apparently you can be one of the top 5 players in the NBA despite the fact that you can't shoot?

He's barely top 20 if that.

Durant, Lebron, CP3, Wade, Howard, Kobe, Griffin, Rose, Monta Ellis, Carmelo, Josh Smith, Stoudemire, etc.

Um, yeah. Besides the obvious like Rodman, Shaq, Bill Russell, Jason Kidd only became a good shooter in the latter half of his career. Besides that, I do not agree that Rondo can not shoot, since he makes most of the jumpers he takes, he just doesnt take many of them.

If you really do not think Rajon Rondo is a top 20 player then the only way you evaluate greatness is by reading stat sheets (which Rondo also fills up) and are not a very good judge of greatness, sir.

Anyone have a stat for his Jump shot percentage? Yeah, he can make layups, but he is horrible taking jumpshots. Listen, I love Rondo, but when people say he is "TOP 5 BESTEST PLAYER IN DA LEAGUE!!" I laugh. If he was that good and the Celtics were openly shopping him, wouldn't teams be lining up to make bids/sign him?

The league wants flashy players who create highlight reels and flashy passes are somewhat underappreciated. Just go look at the highlights for this game on nba.com- most of them are javale mcgee alley oops or john wall driving. Maybe 1 of them is a rondo pass highlight. Teams also place too much stock in the sweet shooting point guard, and overlook Rondo's overall contribution on the basketball court.

[ianboyextreme]

Players definitively better:

1. Durant
2. James
3. Wade
4. Bryant
5. Howard
6. Rose
7. Chris Paul
8. Griffin
10. Dirk

Potential Betters:

Possibly Pierce
Possibly Deron Williams
Possibly Carmelo
Possibly Kevin Love

Rondo is top 15.

Griffin, Dirk, Melo, and Howard do not make their teem-mates better. The players I did not just list, do, but most do not to the extent that Rondo does. Rondo can take over a game by scoring, passing, and to a lesser extent, playing defense. Chris Paul and Durant can not do all those things. Therefore, Rondo is in the same class as Lebron, Wade, Kobe, and Derrick Rose. I do think Kevin Love is arguably a top 5 player as well though. You cant argue with the numbers he puts up and the leadership he exhibits.

If you took Howard off the Magic, they'd be the worst team in the league. If you took Melo off the Knicks they'd be a total non-factor. Same goes for Griffin and the Clips. Dirk's playoff performance last year singlehandedly brought a championship to Dallas. They may not distribute and directly provide easy baskets for their teammates, but they make they're teams hugely better. Also, do you remember the Chicago series? Rose got the best of Rondo, noticeably.

They dont make their teammates better. They dominate games, thats different. I included Rose on that list of guys that make their teammates better.
When a team has a guy that makes the surrounding players better, his presence on the court raises their game. Thats different from being an unstoppable scorer.

[ianboyextreme]

For all those saying that if Rondo keeps hitting his FTs he's a different player....well....you all realize he is only shooting 64.7% from the free throw line this year, right? That's like only 2% better than his career average.

I love me some Rondo and definitely agreed with the ESPN ranking this summer that had him top 20. But that's where it stops until he can prove he is an 18-20 PPG scorer while maintaining his assists and steals and rebounds totals while still hitting 50% from the field.

But he wont score 18 or 20 ppg while the big three are still on the court. If he was trying to with them all in the game, it would mess up the whole flow of the offense.
And people must have a really short memory if they dont remember all the games where scoring has been needed of him, and hes provided it. i.e.- The first game of the season without Paul Pierce. When he needs to score he does it. With the big 3 in the game, he doesnt need to carry the game. Diddnt he score 18 tonight?

[PosImpos]

Top 20, sure, when he's on his game (he's proven to be very inconsistent).

Top 5?  Take a break from the Koolaid, son.

No kool aid, only the fine vintage wine that is Rajon Rondo.

Lebron
Durant
Wade
Howard
Rose
Paul
Dirk
Kobe
Melo
Amare
Love
Griffin
D-Will
Westbrook
Ginobili
Z-Randolph
Bynum

That's 17 players right there that I think many people would consider better than Rondo and whose teams would not trade straight up for Rondo.  I'm sure at least a couple more could arguably be placed in that category, too.

[action781]

Top 20, sure, when he's on his game (he's proven to be very inconsistent).

Top 5?  Take a break from the Koolaid, son.

No kool aid, only the fine vintage wine that is Rajon Rondo.

Lebron
Durant
Wade
Howard
Rose
Paul
Dirk
Kobe
Melo
Amare
Love
Griffin
D-Will
Westbrook
Ginobili
Z-Randolph
Bynum

That's 17 players right there that I think many people would consider better than Rondo and whose teams would not trade straight up for Rondo.  I'm sure at least a couple more could arguably be placed in that category, too.

The struck through names are players that I'm not convinced are certainly better nor worse than Rondo.  I've stated a few times on this blog that I find Westbrook to be definitely better, but Rondo has shown a lot early in the season and my opinion is swaying.

Other players to join those bottom 4 I would say are:  Aldridge, Joe Johnson, Iguodala, Nash, Pierce, Pau.

Which means I can't say for certainty he's even top 20.  Probably, but not definitely.  If he plays with the intensity and heart we've seen and can do that consistently, then I'd put him around #10 or 11

[BudweiserCeltic]

You guys also need to remember that many of the players being listed, are players that command double teams and teams gameplan to stop that particular player at all cost. Rondo is not at that level yet, once that occurs and Rondo keeps performing, then it'll be seen in a different light.

That said, loving Rondo this year, that's for certain. Hope he keeps it up, particularly with his passing game and ball movement.