No. 12: Rajon Rondo, PG, Age 26, Boston Celtics (22)
2012 Stats: 11.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 11.7 apg, 44.8 FG%, 17.5 PER
Rankings: 8, 20, 10
Much like Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo rises up the rankings in a big way this year by virtue of his transition from key piece to team MVP. The quirkiest and cheekiest big-time player in the league, Rondo achieved maestro status in 2011-12, averaging a career-high (and league-leading) 11.7 assists, even as teams repeatedly dared him to shoot.
If there had been any doubt, Rondo solidified his reputation among the game's greats with the performance of his life in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals overtime loss to the Miami Heat: a stunning 44-point, 10-assist, 8-rebound, 3-steal effort that saw him play all 53 minutes because of various injuries to his teammates. For that game, and a few other stretches of the series, Rondo was the best player on the court, better even than 2012 MVP LeBron James. No one else during the 2012 playoffs can make that claim as convincingly.
The holes in Rondo's game remain. He has no consistent range on his jump shot, he probably gambles a bit too much on defense, he's prone to moments of hot-headedness when it comes to the officials and his personality takes some acclimation, as he reportedly rubbed Ray Allen the wrong way last season. But his strengths outweigh those weaknesses more than ever. The Celtics still have him on that bargain contract, too, paying the All-NBA third team member just $11 million next season, what amounts to probably a 20 percent discount off of his market value. The challenge this season will be one of integration. New Celtics Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, Jared Sullinger and (returning from a year away) Jeff Green will need to find comfort and a niche. Other than their counterparts in San Antonio, there isn't a better coach/point guard tandem than Doc Rivers and Rondo to make that process a success.
