Rajon Rondo finishing degree at Kentucky, will be a 'listening ear' for Wildcats

Rajon Rondo is an all-time talent for the Kentucky men’s basketball program, earning All-SEC Freshman Team honors his first season with the Wildcats in 2004-05 before being named Second Team All-SEC as a sophomore in 2005-06.

That opened the door to a 16-year career in the NBA where he became a four-time All-Star and won two world championships with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Scoring 9,337 career points while recording 7,584 assists, 4,349 rebounds and 1,518 steals, Rondo is widely considered one of the most brilliant basketball minds in the history of the game.

But now he’s turning his Master’s degree in basketball into a real diploma from the University of Kentucky.

The former Wildcat is being inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its 2023 class this weekend. Leading up to the ceremony, Rondo announced he was back on campus taking classes and will earn his degree soon. As for what’s next after that, he isn’t quite sure.

“Well, I’m not officially retired (from playing) yet, so I don’t know right now [laughs],” he told KSR. “Right now I’m just enjoying my time with my kids and I’m enrolled back in school, going to finish my degree here soon. That’s what I’m focused on right now.”

Rondo was back on campus taking classes during the spring semester and hanging around the basketball offices. There, sources tell KSR that John Calipari had discussions with the former Wildcat about joining his staff as a student assistant this season — like Tyler Ulis — while he worked toward his degree.

It may not be in an official capacity — this winter, at least. But he does plan to be around the basketball program and work with the Wildcats as much as he can until he figures out what’s next in his career.

“I can’t wait to see them, can’t wait to get my hands on them,” Rondo said. “I’m going to try to give them input however I can. Coach Cal actually called me right before I got here, I told him I’m just happy to be around and be a listening ear for these young guys.”

As for his decision to return to school and get his degree, Rondo says it was simple. With two kids ages 16 and 11, he wanted to be a good role model for them.

And the natural competitor he is, he couldn’t watch them get their degrees before he did.

“I wanted to educate myself. I haven’t officially retired yet, but I had a couple of years where they were sabbatical years,” Rondo said. “So I wanted to educate myself and be an example for my kids because they’re in school and I want to get my degree before they do.”

His next steps remain up in the air. Until then, the UK Athletics Hall of Famer is going to earn his diploma and provide a listening ear to the current Wildcats as they look to find the same on-court success he did in Lexington.