Thank You Rajon Rondo

Sending thanks to Rajon Rondo, who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night in exchange for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, a conditional first-round pick in the 2015 draft and a second-rounder in 2016, as well as a $12.9 million trade exception.

Rajon Rondo,

Thank you for steering the point guard duties for the 2007-2008 Boston Celtics NBA Championship team, who throttled the rival LA Lakers in the Finals.

Thank you for helping the Celtics begin the 2008-2009 season 27-2, the best start in NBA History. Celtics Nation will never forget how you nearly averaged a triple-double that postseason (16.9 ppg, 9.9 apg, 9.7 rpg). It’s a shame Kevin Garnett was sidelined for the entire playoffs with a knee injury because the Celtics were a lock to win the Eastern Conference (they almost did even with KG injured) and may have been able to defeat the Lakers in the Finals.

Thank you for developing into an elite point guard in the 2009-2010 season—a year that you helped guide the fourth-seeded Celtics to a win away from capturing the NBA Championship. Had Kendrick Perkins not torn his ACL in Game 6 of the Finals in what was the most untimely injury in NBA postseason history, Boston likely would have won that infamous Game 7 against LA, and you would have had your second ring.

Thank you for leading the good-but-not-great 2011-2012 Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals. The entire country was rooting for the Celtics in that series against the detested Miami Heat. You emerged into the best player on the Celtics that postseason and were the major reason why they pushed the heavily-favored Heat to the brink of elimination, nearly pulling off one of the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history.

And thank you for keeping the Celtics watchable these past two seasons. It hasn't been easy for Celtics fans after the unceremonious trade of legend Paul Pierce in the summer of 2013, but you kept Celtics Nation entertained as a walking triple-double.

Thanks for all the memories, Mr. Triple-Double. Once a Celtics Legend, Always a Celtics Legend.

Love, Boston Celtics Nation

Rajon Rondo’s message (combing his recent Tweets): pic.twitter.com/DmYdUlDSXn
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) December 19, 2014