Rajon Rondo hates his ‘Playoff Rondo’ nickname

Rajon Rondo is not a fan of his nickname, which is meant to be a compliment towards him.

Rondo told The New York Times’ Marc Stein that he hates his “Playoff Rondo” nickname. He insists that he is the same player he’s always been and dismisses the notion that he’s not as good the rest of the time.

“I’ve done what I’ve done in the past,” Rondo told Stein. “I let my game speak for itself. I feel like, when I get a certain amount of minutes and when the coaches allow me to be me on the court, I’m Rondo. There’s no ‘Playoff Rondo.’”

It seems that Rondo is just more upset at the perception that he’s not as productive the rest of the time, which probably has to do with the drama he’s been a part of at his previous stops.

Ultimately, Rondo acknowledges that he does show up in the big moments.

“’Playoff Rondo’, I think, is a myth. But I do love the big moments.”

Rondo helped New Orleans to a playoff sweep against Portland. He’s won a championship with Boston. And for his career, Rondo is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists. In the postseason, Rondo has averaged 14.2 points, 6 rebounds and 9.2 assists. The numbers don’t lie, Rondo.