Bob Cousy (left)

Point guard (PG), also called the one, play maker or "the ball-handler," is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game and is commonly abbreviated "PG." A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right players at the right time. Above all, the point guard must totally understand and accept his or her coach's game plan; in this way, the position can be compared to a quarterback in American football.

Point guard characteristics[link]

A point guard, like other player positions in basketball, specializes in certain skills. A point guard's job is to create scoring opportunities for his team. Lee Rose has described a point guard as a coach on the floor, who can handle and distribute the ball to teammates^[1]. This involves setting up plays on the court, getting the ball to the teammate in the best position to score, and controlling the tempo of the game. A point guard should know when and how to instigate a fast break and when and how to initiate the more deliberate sets.^[2] Point guards are expected to be vocal floor leaders, and to discuss rule interpretations with officials. A point guard needs always to have in mind the times on the shot clock and the game clock, the score, the numbers of remaining timeouts for both teams, etc.

After an opponent scores, it is typically the point guard who brings the ball down court to begin an offensive play. Passing skills, ball handling, and court vision are crucial. Speed is important; a speedy point guard is better able to create separation and space off the dribble, giving himself room to work.^[1] Point guards are often valued more for their assist totals than for their scoring. Another major evaluation factor is Assist-to-Turnover ratio, which reflects the decision-making skills of the player. Still, a first-rate point guard should also have a reasonably effective jump shot.

Most current NBA point guards are between 5'10" and 6'4" (1.93 m) in height. In 2011 the average height of point guards in the NBA was just over 6'1". Having above average size (height, muscle) is considered advantageous, although size is secondary to situational awareness, speed, quickness, and ball handling skills. Shorter players tend to be better dribblers since they are closer to the floor, and thus have better control of the ball while dribbling. So point guards tend to be short since dribbling the ball is an essential skill for the position. Among the taller players who have enjoyed success at the position is Magic Johnson, who was 6'9" (2.06 m) and won the National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award three times in his career. Other point guards who have been named NBA MVP include Derrick Rose, Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson (who somewhat foreshadowed Johnson in that he was 6'5" [1.96 m], the height of many forwards in his era), and two-time winner Steve Nash.

Styles of play[link]

Offense[link]

Steve Nash brings the ball up the court.

The point guard is almost always positioned on the perimeter of the play, so as to have the best view of the action. This is a necessity because of the point guard's many leadership obligations. Many times, the point guard is referred to by announcers as a "coach on the floor" or a "floor general." In the past, this was particularly true, as several point guards such as Lenny Wilkens served their team as a player-coach. This is not so common anymore, as most coaches are now solely specialized in coaching and are non-players. Some point guards are still given a great deal of leeway in the offense, such as Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns. Former Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni had allowed him to freelance often when leading the Suns' offense, even letting Nash call his own plays at times. Even point guards who are not given this much freedom, however, are still extensions of their coach on the floor and must display good leadership skills.

Along with leadership and a general basketball acumen, ball-handling is a skill of great importance to a point guard. Generally speaking, the point guard is the player in possession of the ball for the most time during a game and is responsible for maintaining possession of the ball for his team in the face of any pressure from the opponents. Point guards must be able to maintain possession of the ball in crowded spaces and in traffic and be able to advance the ball quickly. A point guard that has enough ball-handling skill and quickness to be able to drive to the basket in a half-court set is also very valuable and considered by some to be a must for a successful offense.

After overall ball-handling, passing and scoring are the next most important areas of the game for a point guard. As the primary decision maker for a team, a point guard's passing ability determines how well a point guard is able to put his or her decision into play. It is one thing to be able to recognize the player that is in a tactically advantageous position, but it is another thing entirely to be able to deliver the ball to that player. For this reason, a point guard is usually, but not always, more skilled and focused on passing than shooting. However, a good jump shot and the ability to score off a drive to the basket are still valuable skills. A point guard will often use his or her ability to score in order to augment his or her effectiveness as a decision maker and play maker.

Chris Paul played in arming the U.S. Team in 2008 Olympic Games.

In addition to the traditional role of the point guard, modern teams have found new ways to utilize the position. Notably, several modern point guards have used a successful style of post play, a tactic usually practiced by much larger centers and forwards. Working off of the fact that the opposing point guard is in all probability an undersized player with limited strength, several modern point guards have developed games close to the basket that include being able to utilize the drop step, spin move, and fade away jump shot. Former New York Knicks & Indiana Pacers PG Mark Jackson, and Chauncey Billups (now of the Los Angeles Clippers) are notable examples of players who frequently use this style of play.

In recent years, the sport's shift from a fundamental style of play to a more flashy, scoring-orientated game has resulted in the proliferation of so-called combo guards at the point guard position. Usually more explosive and athletic, e.g. Brandon Jennings, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Monta Ellis, Allen Iverson, they focus more on scoring as opposed to play making, forgoing assists and ball-movement for higher scoring numbers. Young players who are relatively short (i.e. 6'0" or less) are now developing the scoring aspects of their skill-sets, whereas previously these players would find it difficult to enter the NBA without true point guard skills. These combo point guards can surprise defenses. Instead of passing after bringing up the ball they quickly drive to the basket or step back for an outside shot. There are some disadvantages to this style of play. A point guard is the only position that has the ability to take the ball from one end of the court to the other causing teammates to never touch the ball. This can cause other players to become dis-involved in the offense. Even so, combo guards still require above-average passing skill, but not as much as possessed by "pure" point guards (which is what those in the traditional mold of a point guard are referred to as).

Defense[link]

Gary Payton, one of the best defensive point guards of all time

A point guard primarily defends on the perimeter, just as he primarily plays on the perimeter on offense. On defense, the point guard is tasked with making the opposing point guard as ineffective as possible. A defensive point guard will try to accomplish this with constant pressure on the ball, making it difficult to maintain possession. A defensive point guard will also pressure opponents in passing lanes in an attempt to generate steals and scoring opportunities for his own team.

Another important task for a point guard on the defensive end is to be a help defender. Whenever the player that the point guard is tasked with defending is away from the ball, a point guard will usually allow distance to accumulate from his or her assignment in order to help his or her teammates with their assignments. Walt Frazier and Gary Payton are often considered among the greatest defensive point guards in NBA history.^[3]

See also[link]

• Bob Cousy Award – An annual award given to the nation's top NCAA male point guard
• Nancy Lieberman Award – The counterpart to the Cousy Award; given to the top NCAA female point guard

References[link]

External links[link]

Media related to Point guards at Wikimedia Commons

• FOXSports.com - Best all-time point guards, accessed 2008-02-09

Basketball positions v t e
Guards		1. Point guard	Combo guard (PG/SG)
		2. Shooting guard	Guard-forward/Swingman (SG/SF)
Forwards		3. Small forward	Stretch forward/Cornerman (SF/PF)
		4. Power forward	Point forward (PG/SF or PG/PF)
Center		5. Center	Forward-center/Bigman (PF/C)
Frontcourt (SF/PF/C) | Captain | Head coach | Referees and officials

Rajon Rondo

Rondo with the Celtics playing in a game against the Knicks
No. 9 – Boston Celtics
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1986-02-22) February 22, 1986 (age 26) Louisville, Kentucky
Nationality	American
High school	Eastern HS (Middletown, Kentucky), Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky
NBA Draft	2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	2006–present
Career history
2006–present	Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
NBA Champion (2008) 3× NBA All-Star (2010–2012) All-NBA Third Team (2012) 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2010–2011) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2009, 2012) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2007) NBA steals leader (2010) NBA assists leader (2012)

Rajon Pierre Rondo (born February 22, 1986) is an American professional basketball point guard with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a scholarship from the University of Kentucky. He played for two years at Kentucky before declaring for the 2006 NBA Draft, represented by agent Bill Duffy.

During the draft, Rondo was selected 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns, and was subsequently traded to the Boston Celtics, where he made his NBA debut as a rookie during the 2006–07 season. He played a supporting role before he established himself as the starting point guard for the Celtics during the 2007–08 season. That season, Rondo earned his first NBA Championship, playing alongside All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. His breakout performance came during the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where he nearly averaged a triple-double, and helped his team take the eventual Eastern-conference champion Orlando Magic seven games in the Eastern semi-finals.^[1] He ranks eighth in Celtics history in assists and fifth in steals.^[2]

Early life[link]

Rondo was born on February 22, 1986 in Louisville, Kentucky to Amber Rondo.^[3] He has three siblings: Dymon, William and Anton.^[4] He had little contact with his father, who left his family when he was seven years old.^[4] To support the family, his mother worked the third shift at Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company.^[4] Rondo was first interested in football, before his mother steered him towards basketball because she felt that the sport would be less punishing on his skinny frame.^[4] After Rondo became serious about basketball, he attended Louisville's Eastern High School for three years where he played under head coach Doug Bibby. During his junior year at Eastern High School, he averaged 27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists which earned him a spot on the All-State honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year. He transferred to Virginia's Oak Hill Academy for his senior year where he averaged 21.0 points per game (ppg), 3.0 rebounds per game (rpg) and 12.0 assists per game (apg) and finished the 2003–04 season with a 38–0 record.^[5] In his senior year at Oak Hill Academy, Rondo broke Jeff McInnis's single-season school record of 303 assists, while averaging a double-double. There, he included two efforts of 27 assists and a single-game school record of 31, merely four away from the all-time national record.^[5] He also had a 55 point game in high-school, second highest all-time in Oak Hill Academy, surpassed only by Calvin Duncan with 61.^[6] Rondo was named to the McDonald's All-American Team in 2004 and scored a total of 14 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in the all-star game. He also participated in the 2004 Jordan Capital Classic game, logging 12 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. He ended his career as Oak Hill Academy's all-time assists leader in a single season with 494 assists, surpassing Jeff McInnis.^[7]

College career[link]

Rondo committed to University of Kentucky over hometown University of Louisville.^[8] Rondo, along with All-Americans Joe Crawford and Randolph Morris, gave Kentucky the top-rated recruiting class for 2004 according to Rivals.com.^[9] Rondo led Kentucky to several wins including clutch-shot victories against the University of Louisville, South Carolina and Central Florida, but Kentucky failed to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in either Rondo's freshman or sophomore seasons. He was named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team.^[10] He set a Kentucky Wildcats record for most steals in single-season, with a total of 87 steals in his freshman year and made at least one steal in every game.^[11] He finished his freshman year at Kentucky averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals.^[12]

In his sophomore year he had a career high 12 assists against Ole Miss, despite playing just 23 minutes, and 25 points against Louisville.^[13] Rondo also set another Kentucky Wildcats record for most rebounds in a game by a guard, with 19 rebounds in an early season loss to Iowa.^[14] He was not known for being a shooter, however, going 18–66 from three with a 57.1% FT average. He averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in his sophomore year.^[12] Rondo was also named to the 2005 USA Men's Under-21 World Championship Team, which traveled to Argentina for the FIBA World Championships.^[15] He averaged 11.0 ppg and 4.5 apg in the eight-game tournament, garnering much attention from NBA scouts. The USA U-21 team won a gold medal at the Global Games held in Texas in late July.

NBA career[link]

2006 NBA Draft[link]

Following the 2005–06 NCAA season, Rondo announced he would forgo his final two seasons at Kentucky and enter the NBA draft.^[16] Rondo was drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA Draft. Phoenix then traded him to the Boston Celtics along with Brian Grant for the Cleveland Cavaliers' first-round draft pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and cash considerations.^[17] He was the first point guard to be chosen in the draft.^[18] In another draft-day deal, the Celtics acquired Sebastian Telfair from the Portland Trail Blazers, finally uniting the backcourt Rick Pitino had envisioned at Louisville.^[19] He was signed by the Boston Celtics on July 4, 2006.

Rookie season[link]

During his rookie season in the NBA, Rondo played a supporting role and would split time with Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West. Rondo only started in 25 games that season due to his initial backup role to Telfair. He made his NBA regular season debut on November 1, 2006, in a home loss against the New Orleans Hornets.^[20] In his rookie season, he lacked on his jump shot which resulted in him slashing to the basket for a teardrop or layup. While coming off the bench, he managed to score a career-high 23 points against the Toronto Raptors,^[3] and record his first career double-double in a road losing effort against the Washington Wizards.^[21] In his first career start, he matched his career-high against the Los Angeles Clippers, though the line-ups were constantly being shuffled between Telfair and Rondo at the point guard.^[3] After officially becoming a starter, he began to receive more playing time (career-high forty-seven minutes of playing time)^[3] and show improvement (career-high fourteen rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs,^[22] and a career-high seven steals against the Indiana Pacers).^[3] As the mid-season approached, his numbers began to increase,^[23] which earned him an All-Rookie Second Team selection.^[24] He finished the season with an average of 6.4 ppg and 3.8 apg,^[25] ranking in the top ten in the NBA in steals (128)^[26] and also ranking in the top ten among rookies in several other categories, including first in steals, second in assists and sixth in minutes.^[23] In the end, however, the Celtics finished the season with a 24–58 win-loss record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

2007–08 season[link]

Rondo in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.

After Telfair and West were traded during the offseason of the 2007–08 season, Rondo secured a spot in the starting lineup, starting in every game. Surrounded by All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, he quickly became a steady, consistent player.^[27] In his 77 games played, he averaged 10.6 points per game (ppg), 5.1 assists per game (apg) and 4.2 rebounds per game (rpg).^[25] His role as a playmaker reflected in him leading the team in assists and steals. In a game against the New Jersey Nets, Rondo suffered a lower back injury late in the third quarter, forcing him to miss the next four games.^[28] He made his successful return from injury and to the starting lineup in a road win against the New York Knicks.^[29] A week later, he matched his career-high against the Miami Heat,^[30] and then scored a career-high 24 points in a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers the following month.^[31] During the All-Star break, he was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam.^[32] Following the All-Star weekend, Rondo recorded a career-high 16 assists in a home victory against the Charlotte Bobcats.^[33] Despite his solid rookie year, there was much speculation about Boston needing a veteran point guard.^[34] In March, they signed veteran point guard Sam Cassell as a free agent to serve as a backup.^[34] The Celtics' best single-season improvement in NBA history earned them the number one seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Following the regular season, Rondo finished in the top five for the NBA Most Improved Player voting.^[35] Rondo made his playoff debut on April 20, 2008 against the Atlanta Hawks and finished the game with 15 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. The Celtics closed out the series in seven games, went on to defeat Cleveland in the next round, and then defeated the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, facing the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo recorded two strong performances, including a career-high 16 assists in Game 2. In Game 3, however, Rondo left the court in the third quarter after rolling his ankle.^[36] The ankle injury was considered a "non-factor", and Rondo eventually made his return in Game 4.^[37] In Game 6, the point guard posted a playoffs career-high 6 steals as the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2, giving Rondo his first NBA championship ring. After the game Lakers head coach Phil Jackson called Rondo the "star" of Game 6.^[34]

2008–09 season[link]

Rondo with a layup in a game against the New Orleans Hornets.

In his third NBA campaign, the Celtics began the season with the best starting record in NBA history and also set a franchise record with a nineteen-game winning streak.^[38] Rondo's numbers increased from his previous season performance; however, he was criticized for his shooting.^[39] He recorded his first career triple-double along with a career-high in assists (16 points, 13 rebounds and 17 assists), against the Indiana Pacers.^[40] In a home win against the New York Knicks, Rondo led the team to tie a franchise record with eighteen straight wins.^[41] However, after the winning streak was snapped the team struggled, losing seven out of nine games after ending the streak.^[42] Rondo—matched up with one of the league's quicker guards, Tony Parker—recorded 16 assists in a losing effort against the Spurs, one short of his season-high.^[43] Less than a week later against the Mavericks, he recorded his second career triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists),^[44] and then recorded a career-high 32 points against the Phoenix Suns on his 23rd birthday.^[45] He became the first NBA athlete to sign an endorsement contract with Red Bull on April 17, 2009. He finished the season ranking fifth in the NBA in assists (8.2) and steals (1.9).^[46] The team finished the season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, although they entered the playoffs without their injured All-Star power forward Kevin Garnett.

In the playoffs match-up against the Chicago Bulls, despite putting up a playoff career-high 29 points in Game 1, the Celtics lost in overtime.^[47] Boston won the next two games and in Games 2 and 4, Rondo recorded triple-doubles^[48] and became the first Celtic player with two triple-doubles in the same series since Larry Bird in 1986. He also became the first player with multiple triple-doubles in the same playoff series since Jason Kidd had three triple-doubles in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals.^[49] In Game 6, he recorded a career-high 19 assists without a turnover, tying an NBA playoffs record.^[50] In the next round against the Orlando Magic, the Celtics lost the first game before Rondo's triple-double performance in Game 2 helped secure a home win. His third triple-double of the postseason tied Larry Bird's franchise record and also became the first to do that since Jason Kidd had four.^[51] However, the Celtics were defeated in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.^[52] During the postseason, Rondo nearly averaged a triple double with 16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists.^[53]

2009–10 season[link]

During the 2009–10 season, Rondo averaged career highs in points (13.7), assists (9.8) and steals (2.3) and became the first Celtic to lead the league in steals.^[54] On November 2, 2009, Rondo signed a five-year extension with the Celtics worth a guaranteed $55 million.^[55] In a road victory against the Orlando Magic on Christmas day, Rondo recorded 17 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists, two assists shy of a triple double.^[56] Three days later, Rondo scored 30 points along to go with 15 assists in a road loss to the Golden State Warriors.^[57] On January 10, 2010, Rondo recorded his third regular-season career triple-double, with 22 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors.^[58] On January 28, 2010, he received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve on the Eastern Conference squad for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.^[59] He also competed in the 2010 H-O-R-S-E contest but lost In the finals to Kevin Durant.^[60] Rondo recorded his fourth regular-season career triple-double against the Denver Nuggets on March 24, 2010, with 11 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds.^[61] Two days later against the Sacramento Kings, Rondo entered the game tied with Rick Fox for a franchise record of most steals in a single-season (167), eventually establishing the record with a second-quarter steal from Sean May.^[62] In a game against the Houston Rockets on April 2, 2010, he broke Bob Cousy's franchise record for most assists in a single-season.^[63]

In the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in five games and faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. In Game 2, Rondo dished out 19 assists tying his career-high and also tying a franchise record for most assists in a playoff game.^[64] In Game 4, he recorded his fourth postseason triple-double along with a playoff career-high 29 points and 18 rebounds.^[65] He joined Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only other player in NBA history to have 29 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in a playoff game.^[66] The Celtics eventually defeated the Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.^[67] In the Finals, the Celtics once again faced the Los Angeles Lakers, a team they previously beat in 2008. In Game 2, Rondo recorded his second triple-double of the postseason (19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists),^[68] however, despite Rondo's performance, the Celtics succumbed to the Lakers in seven games.^[69]

2010–11 season[link]

In the first game of the 2010–11 season, Rondo put up 17 assists, which tied with Oscar Robertson for the third-most assists in a season opener.^[70] In the third game of the season, he dished out a career-high 24 assists along with a triple-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) against the New York Knicks.^[71] It tied him with Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to have at least 24 assists in a triple-double.^[72] His total of 50 assists through the first three games of the season tied John Stockton's NBA record for most assists in the first 3 games of the season.^[72] In the next game against the Detroit Pistons, he finished the game with 17 assists for a total of 67 assists, which is the most assists in the teams first four games in NBA history.^[73] With a 15 assists effort the following day, Rondo again set a record for most assists through the first five games.^[74]

Rondo's season also began with injuries. He has played through plantar fasciitis in his feet.^[75] He missed three games in November due to a strained left hamstring.^[76] He sprained his left ankle in a win against the New York Knicks on December 15, 2010, and missed the next seven games.^[77] On April 22, in the third game of the first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Rondo had a triple-double with 20 assists.^[78] Rondo set a Celtics franchise record for most assists in a playoff game. He was also tied with LeBron James with 6 career triple-double in the playoffs until James had reached his seventh further on in the playoffs during Game 4 of the Finals.^[78][79] Rondo had the third best selling jersey in the league during the 2010-11 season, behind only James and Kobe Bryant.^[80]

2011–12 season[link]

On February 21, 2012, Rondo was named an injury replacement for Joe Johnson on the Eastern Conference roster at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.^[81] With 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists against the Knicks on March 4, he joined Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Jason Kidd as the only players to have at least 15 points, rebounds, and assists in the same game.^[82] In a win against the Heat on April 1, Rondo registered another triple-double (16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds).^[83] Rondo closed out the regular season with 24 consecutive games of 10+ assists. This is not only a Celtics franchise record, but is also the longest streak the NBA has seen since John Stockton logged a streak of 29 such games in 1992. Only Magic Johnson and Stockton have streaks longer than Rondo's, which is still considered active and will resume at the beginning of the 2012-13 regular season.^[84]

Rondo posted his sixth triple-double of the season (with 20 assists) in an overtime win against the Hawks on April 11.^[85] He had his first triple double of the 2012 playoffs against the same team on May 4,^[86] another on May 13 in the first game of the second round against the 76ers,^[87] and a third on May 26 in the last game of that round, helping the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference finals.^[88] He joined Larry Bird as the only Celtics players to record a triple-double in a Game 7 and is tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the fourth-most postseason triple-doubles in NBA history.^[89] In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, Rondo scored a career high 44 points while grabbing 8 rebounds and adding 10 assists.^[90] According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rondo is the only player in NBA history with 44 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in a playoff game.^[90]

NBA career statistics[link]

Correct as of end of the 2011-12 regular season^[25]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Awards and honors[link]

• 1× NBA Champion: 2008
• 3× NBA All-Star: 2010, 2011, 2012 ^[91]
• 1× All-NBA Team:

• Third Team: 2012

• 4× NBA All-Defensive:

• First Team: 2010, 2011
• Second Team: 2009, 2012

• NBA All-Rookie selection:

• Second team: 2007

• NBA regular season leader:

• 2010: most steals (189), most steals per game (2.3)
• 2012: most assists per game (11.4), most triple-doubles (6)

• NBA postseason leader:

• 2008: most assists (172), most steals (45)
• 2009: most assists (127), most triple-doubles (3)
• 2010: most triple-doubles (2), most steals (46)
• 2011: most triple-doubles (1)
• 2012*: most assists (165), most assists per game (11.8), most triple-doubles (3)

*active series

• Boston Celtics franchise records:

• Most assists in a single season: 794 (2009–10)
• Most steals in a single season: 189 (2009–10)
• Most assists in a playoff game: 20 (2010–11)
• Most assists per game (season): 11.7 (2011-12)
• Most consecutive games with 10+ assists (regular season): 24* (2011-12)

*active streak

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

• Rajon Rondo at NBA.com
• Rajon Rondo at Basketball-Reference.com
• The Official Site of Rajon Rondo
• YardBarker – Rajon Rondo's Blog
• NBA.com Draft Profile
• Profile at UKAthletics.com
• ESPN.com Player Card
• Rajon Rondo Career Stats
• ESPN.com 2010 NBA Playoffs Feature: "9 Stories on No. 9: The Legend of Rondo"; 06/08/10

John Stockton

Stockton at the Fairchild Air Force Base in 1996.
No. 12
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1962-03-26) March 26, 1962 (age 50) Spokane, Washington, USA
Nationality	American
High school	Gonzaga Preparatory (Spokane, Washington)
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Gonzaga (1980–1984)
NBA Draft	1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Pro career	1984–2003
Career history
1984–2003	Utah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
10× NBA All-Star (1989–1997, 2000) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1993) 2× All-NBA First Team (1994–1995) 6× All-NBA Second Team (1988–1990, 1992–1993, 1996) 3× All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1997, 1999) 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1989, 1991–1992, 1995, 1997) WCC Player of the Year (1984) NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team #12 Retired by the Utah Jazz
Career NBA statistics
Points	19,711 (13.1 ppg)
Assists	15,806 (10.5 apg)
Steals	3,265 (2.2 spg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
Medals Men's Basketball Competitor for  United States Gold 1992 Barcelona National team Gold 1996 Atlanta National team

John Houston Stockton (born March 26, 1962) is a former American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. John Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time,^[1] holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by considerable margins.^[2][3] Stockton is a former All-Star and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Early years[link]

Stockton was born in Spokane, Washington to Clementine Frei and Jack Stockton and had Irish and Swiss German ancestry.^[4] He attended grade school at St. Aloysius and moved on to high school at Gonzaga Prep, graduating in 1980. He then played college basketball for Gonzaga University in his hometown where he averaged 20.9 points per game while shooting 57% from the field in his senior year. His grandfather, Houston Stockton had also been a well known athlete at Gonzaga University. John Stockton was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 16th overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.

NBA career[link]

John Stockton averaged a career double-double, with 13.1 points and 10.5 assists per game. He holds the NBA's record for most career assists (15,806) by a margin of more than 4,000, as well as the record for most career steals (3,265). He had five of the top six assists seasons in NBA history (the other belonging to Isiah Thomas). He holds the NBA record for the most seasons, games, and consecutive games played with one team, and is third in total games played, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish. He missed only 22 games during his career, 18 of them in one season. He played in 38 games where he tallied 20 or more assists.

Stockton appeared in 10 All-Star games, and was named co-MVP of the game in 1993 with Jazz teammate Karl Malone, which was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. He played with the 1992 and 1996 US Olympic basketball teams, known as Dream Team I and III, the first Olympic squads to feature NBA players, keeping the game ball from both Gold Medal games. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team twice, the All-NBA Second Team six times, the All-NBA Third Team three times, and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team five times. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996. Stockton's career highlight came in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals. Stockton scored the last 9 points for the Jazz, including a buzzer-beating 3-point shot over the Houston Rockets' Charles Barkley, to send the Jazz to the first of its two consecutive NBA Finals appearances. In both of these appearances, Stockton's Jazz teams were defeated by the Chicago Bulls. In Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Stockton made a three-pointer with 41.9 seconds left to give the Jazz an 86–83 lead, but Bulls guard Michael Jordan made two field goals to put his team ahead 87–86, the second one after stealing from Jazz forward Karl Malone. Stockton missed a three-point attempt with 5.2 seconds left and said in a post-game interview that he felt confident that the shot would go in.^[5]

For many years, he and Malone were the Jazz's 1-2 punch. The two played a record 1,412 regular-season games together as teammates (by comparison, only three other NBA players besides Stockton and Malone have reached 1,412 NBA games played). Many of Stockton's assists resulted from passes to Malone. Stockton earned the "old school" tag for his physical play (surveys of athletes and fans alike often judged him among the toughest players in the NBA, usually just behind teammate Karl Malone); his uniform "short shorts" (he was the most recent notable NBA player to wear them, preferring the style after the rest of the league had adopted today's baggier look); his simple dress off the court, which contrasted with many of his NBA contemporaries; and his reserved demeanor.

On May 2, 2003, Stockton announced his retirement with a released statement instead of the customary news conference. The Jazz later held a retirement ceremony for him, in which Salt Lake City renamed the street in front of the Energy Solutions Arena (then known as the Delta Center), where the Jazz play, John Stockton Drive.^[6] His number-12 jersey was retired by the Jazz during a game on November 22, 2004. A statue of Stockton can be seen in front of the Energy Solutions Arena; an accompanying statue of Karl Malone was placed nearby on March 23, 2006. The Malone and Stockton statues stand on a bronze plaque commemorating their achievements together. Stockton was announced as a member of the 2009 class of inductees to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 6, 2009; he was formally inducted on September 11. Stockton chose 2000 inductee and fellow point guard Isiah Thomas to present him at the induction ceremony.^[7]

Along with Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Elgin Baylor, Nate Thurmond, Reggie Miller, Pete Maravich, and his teammate Karl Malone, John Stockton is considered to be one of the best players never to have won an NBA championship.^[8]

Player profile[link]

John Stockton in 2002 while Yao Ming shoots a free throw.

Stockton, a 10-time NBA All-Star, commandingly holds the NBA record for career assists with 15,806 (10.5 per game). Stockton also holds the record for assists-per-game average over one season (14.5 in 1990), and is one of three players who have logged more than 1,000 assists in one season, joining Kevin Porter (1,099 in 1979) and Isiah Thomas (1,123 in 1985) in the exclusive list. Stockton did this seven times, with season totals of 1,164, 1,134, 1,128, 1,126, 1,118, 1,031 and 1,011 assists.^[9]

He and Karl Malone are regarded by many as the quintessential pick and roll duo. Apart from his passing skill, Stockton was also a capable scorer (13.1 points per game career average and a 51.5 career shooting percentage) with a reliable three-point shot (38.4% lifetime average). He is 30th on the all-time NBA scoring list with 19,711 career points.^[10] Despite the fact that he had never pulled down more than 9 rebounds (or recorded more than 9 steals) during a regular season game, he finally recorded a career triple double, at age 39, in a playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 28, 2001. He scored 12 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and had 10 assists.^[11]

On defense, Stockton holds the NBA record for career steals with 3,265, nearly 30 percent more than second placed Jason Kidd, who is currently active.^[12]

Stockton was known for his unassuming, no-nonsense approach to the game, hard-nosed defense, and fanatical work-ethic in preparation, which resulted in his extreme durability. He played 1,504 of 1,526 possible games in his 19-season career. In his first 13 seasons, he missed only four games (all in the 1989–90 season) until he missed the first 18 games of the 1997–98 season due to an injured MCL in his left knee sustained in the preseason. That was the only major injury in his career and he never missed another game after returning from that injury. In his last season at age 41, he started all 82 games, and finished with more-than-respectable averages of 10.8 ppg and 7.7 apg.

Stockton avoided most endorsements, and stayed loyal to Utah despite being offered significantly more money by other teams. In 1996, he agreed to a deal that made salary-cap space available so the team could improve, but insisted on guaranteed Delta Center ice time for his son's hockey team.^[13]

On May 11, 2006, ESPN.com named Stockton the 4th best point guard of all time.^[14]

In 1,504 NBA games (an all-time record for a player who played for only one team and games with a single team), of which Stockton started 1,300 (third all-time since starts became an official statistic beginning with the 1981–82 season), Stockton averaged a double-double in points and assists along with 2.2 steals and 31:45 of floor time per game, and holds other scoring accuracy records as noted above.

Personal life[link]

Stockton and his wife, the former Nada Stepovich (daughter of Matilda and Michael Anthony Stepovich, the last territorial governor of Alaska), have two daughters, Lindsay and Laura, and four sons, Houston, Michael, David and Samuel. Houston Stockton played college football as a defensive back for the University of Montana Grizzlies.^[15][16] In 2011, Michael Stockton, who played basketball at Salt Lake City's Westminster College,^[15][17] signed with BG Karlsruhe in Germany's second basketball division.^[18] David Stockton plays for Gonzaga University.^[19] Stockton and his family are devout Roman Catholics.

Stockton has a brother and two nephews who all played college basketball. Steve Stockton, his brother, played for the University of Washington Huskies;^[15] his older son, Steve Stockton Jr., formerly played at Whitworth College;^[15] and his younger son, Shawn Stockton, is currently a senior^[20] player for the 2011–12 Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team.^[15]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]