LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — They were rivals once, Rajon Rondo and LeBron James. Rondo was in Boston. James was in Cleveland and Miami. Their paths would cross most every year in the playoffs, an annual placing of a thorn in one another's side.
James may have had different words to describe Rondo then.
These days, however, the words James uses when speaking of the Los Angeles Lakers' backup point guard include cerebral and determined. And that approach — smart and tough — has Rondo on the doorstep of a most exclusive club.
Rondo helped the Boston Celtics win their 17th NBA championship.