Austin Reaves Credits Rajon Rondo as First Veteran Mentor
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves said former teammate Rajon Rondo was the first veteran to guide him when he entered the NBA.
In an interview with SLAM Magazine, Reaves recalled that then-head coach Frank Vogel encouraged him to lean on Rondo during his 2021-22 rookie campaign. Vogel told the undrafted guard that the two-time champion’s renowned basketball IQ made him an ideal resource for any questions on or off the court.
“I sat by him on the plane,” Reaves said. “We would have a game one night, and the next morning Rondo would ask, ‘Hey, what happened at 5:45 in the first quarter?’ If I didn’t know, it wasn’t good. He definitely taught me to watch film and do all the little things.”
Rondo, who helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA title, returned to the roster for the 2021-22 season primarily as a locker-room voice. Reaves noted that LeBron James has also been a consistent mentor, but Rondo was the first to take an active, day-to-day role in his development.
Emphasis on film study
Rondo’s detailed approach to game tape left a lasting impression on Reaves. The veteran guard routinely quizzed Reaves about specific possessions, pushing the rookie to master the nuances of each matchup.
Health update
Reaves added that he felt “great physically” heading into the recent All-Star break after managing a calf injury that had limited his availability earlier in the season.
Source: Lakers Nation
