LEXINGTON, KY – AUGUST 06: Rajon Rondo waves to the crowd after being introduced at center court during week seven of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Rupp Arena on August 6, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Many Kentucky Wildcat stars were in attendance at their alumni game, but Rajon Rondo stole the show
Kentucky held its UK Alumni Charity Game on Friday night, and they had a lot of NBA talent on the floor to say the least. Rupp Arena was bumping, and the fans were rewarded with a lot of quality basketball. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way in the White Team’s 115-109 win. He scored a game-high 33 points, and he was truly efficient with 16 made field goals on 18 attempts.
New Orleans Pelicans PG Rajon Rondo stole the show though with a borderline triple-double. He recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and his header off the backboard alley-oop was the play of the night.
Rondo had a couple other impressive lobs that he bounced off of the floor. Alex Poythress scored 28 points for the Blue Team, and DeMarcus Cousins was notable for missing 11 out of 12 3-point attempts. He should probably stick to playing in the post when the NBA season begins. Towns has been speaking out politically as of late, and he used the exhibition as an opportunity to showcase a message on each of his sneakers. One read “Love trumps hate” and the other had the word “racism” crossed out by a red circle and line.
You can catch more highlights of the game here.
Rondo signed with the New Orleans Pelicans this summer, and it should be fun to watch what kind of passes he can deliver to Anthony Davis. Rajon and Cousins played together in Sacramento with great statistical success. Rondo averaged 11.7 assists per game that season, and we’ll have to see if all those former Wildcats can recreate the magic in New Orleans.
One thing is for sure. Expect a few more alley-oops from Rondo next year.