Boston Celtics fans are aware the key to their season relies on the chemistry between head coach Brad Stevens and point guard Rajon Rondo. With veterans like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce long gone to Brooklyn, Rondo becomes the building block for the Celtics rebuilding process. As the team prepares for training camp, Rondo says he and Stevens have become very close in the offseason.
"Me and Brad have become best friends," Rondo said, via the Boston Herald. "We talk every day, we laugh and joke. We just had dinner the other night. I'm going to help him, he's going to help me. He has my full support. I told him from Day 1 when he came to my camp that I'm behind him 100 percent. Whatever he wants to do, whatever he wants to change, I have an open mind. I'm ready to listen and to be accountable for what he wants to do."
Rondo admits that he was not upset over the trades of head coach Doc Rivers, Garnett and Pierce. He understands it is all part of the process of the NBA. Excited for the fresh start, Rondo must first heal from a torn ACL suffered last season. While a timetable for his return has not been fully set in place, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge believes Rondo will return around December.
Rondo continues to have nothing but kind words for his new head coach. Stevens comes to the Celtics from the college world and Rondo is confident he is the guy that can bring the team success in the long run.
"Very humble. His communication vibes have been great with me," Rondo said. "Ever since he became the coach, he came to my basketball camp the week after. We got together for about an hour and a half down at my camp in Kentucky. And ever since then he's been texting me, given me a couple of books to read, e-mailed things to look up on YouTube. I think it was important for both of us to get off to a good start, get to know one another. This is his team, this is my team. I'm very supportive of him and he's been very supportive of me."
Rondo is not buying into anything the media says about him. The point guard has been referred to as a "coach killer" and difficult. He believes all that matters is the relationship he knows he has with Stevens.