BOSTON — All right, so Rajon Rondo wasn’t the prototypical captain.
He seemed as adept at alienating people as he was at gaining their support. Whether he was missing a game to celebrate his birthday or slipping in the shower, Rondo always seemed to have something going on.
But he was an All-Star, an NBA champion and he held the official, imaginary captain’s “C” for the last season and a half, so when he spoke, his fellow Celtics listened.
Ever since the trade that sent Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks two weeks ago, however, the Celtics have been without even that sort of guiding light. When Rondo was in green, there was unanimous agreement within the locker room that he was their leader, albeit an imperfect one. Now, no one is a designated captain and some of the most admired players on the team, like Gerald Wallace and Brandon Bass, hardly play.
“I think there certainly was a locker room with less voices prior to (Rondo) leaving, and now I think the guys are all trying to step up and shoulder some of that load,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “Obviously, he wasn’t the only guy that talked, but he certainly was the guy that was the most accomplished in the room, and he did a good job of leading our team.”
The absence of a defined leader could put more pressure on youngsters like Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk to grow into the role faster. Although they have only five combined years of NBA experience, Sullinger and Olynyk are big parts of the franchise’s future at the moment.
If it seems a little awkward for Olynyk, a second-year player, to be taking the lead over longer-tenured veterans, it might just be an awkwardness they have to learn to deal with.
“We’re just trying to pull together as a team, help each other out,” Olynyk said. “Everyone’s voice is just as important as the next person’s. Some people have a little more experience, but everyone’s played this game for a long time. Everyone has valuable input, so everyone who has something to say, their voice is going to be heard and we’re going to try to accommodate, whether it can help or whether it’s advice. Whatever it is, people are going to listen. I think that’s the best dynamic of a good team.”
The Celtics are not looking to replace Rondo, though, whether as a leader, captain or player. They are looking to move on and await whoever emerges organically to guide the team next.
“He was a big influence on our team and the organization, so it’s tough, but we have a lot of great players in this room and we still have a bunch of vets who’ve been there before and know what it takes,” Olynyk said. “We’re just trying to carve out our own path right now.”
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
