Rajon Rondo's first season with the Chicago Bulls has been a humbling experience, to say the least.
Rondo is out of the doghouse after being benched for two weeks - including on his bobblehead night - and the former All-Star guard doesn't understand why he's being overlooked. In his opinion, he's still a very effective starting guard - especially when he plays in the right system.
Naturally, the notoriously prickly Rondo ruffled some feathers while making the case that his skill set - that of a non-shooter who primarily thrives on passing - can still flourish in today's game.
"It’s just, maybe, the personnel in this situation," Rondo told David Aldridge of NBA.com. "I mean, last year - I hate to keep talking about last year - but you couldn’t name three people on my team, the Sacramento Kings, and I led the league in assists. You know? I don’t know. I believe so (that his skill set still has value), given the right personnel and the flow of the game."
Rondo dropped 839 dimes last season, narrowly edging out Russell Westbrook by five for the league lead, and, to his point, the Kings weren't exactly overflowing with talent. DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are certifiable scorers, but past that Rondo fed off the likes of Omri Casspi, Marco Belinelli, and Darren Collison.
That being said, the Kings' offense wasn't all that successful despite Rondo's averages. They ranked 15th in offensive efficiency and scored at the same rate with or without Rondo. That explains the shortage of offers for him come free agency - the Kings didn't make a hard push to keep him and Rondo had to eventually settle for a two-year pact in Chicago.
