When Boston Celtics' Big 3 passed the torch to Rajon Rondo: "They said this is my team"

During the 2011–12 season, something quietly unfolded in the Boston Celtics’ locker room that carried far more weight than it may appear.

Weeks before the next season tipped off, Rajon Rondo opened up about it all. He told local media about the brief sit-down that had transpired with Doc Rivers and veterans Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. In that room, the point guard recounted, this message was delivered: the reins were about to be passed — and to none other than him.

“They said this is my team,” Rondo said, reflecting with pride and humility on that pivotal moment.

A new leader in Boston

The backbone of any successful franchise comes down to players knowing their roles — whether as a bench spark, veteran voice, spot-up shooter, or superstar setting the tone in the locker room.

Since the mid-2000s, the Celtics’ hierarchy was clear, especially at the top. There stood Pierce, Garnett and Allen — future Hall of Famers known as “The Big 3.” Together, they had carried Boston out of a 26-year championship drought by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals.

However, even the most stable hierarchy must eventually change, and for the C’s, that shift occurred in the early 2010s, transitioning from a "Big 3" to a "Big 1."

Rondo, the Celtics’ 2006 draft pick and long treated as the team’s “younger brother,” had been preparing for this moment for years, once saying he’d been sharpening his leadership skills "behind closed doors." Rajon likely kept it quiet to avoid stepping on the established hierarchy, and it’s fair to say that patience turned into a long-term investment that ultimately paid off.

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Rondo repaid the Celtics’ trust

Usually, athletes — especially in the NBA, where ego runs high — who hold a commanding presence on a team aren’t exactly eager to hand over the reins. However, Pierce, Garnett, and Allen made it clear that they were willing to step aside for the good of the roster, allowing Rondo to grow into a true leader. The floor general, for his part, recognized the magnitude of their gesture.

“To allow me to lead the way speaks volumes about their character,” Rajon said, reflecting on the meeting.

The then 26-year-old also admitted it wasn’t easy for veterans to let a young guy take charge, and he understood the responsibility that came with it.

“I earned their respect. It was time for me to step up. It didn’t surprise me — they have character. To accept a new guy who comes in, especially someone like me, it’s part of life. You get older, slow down, and someone else steps up,” said the former four-time All-Star.

Taking on the role was one thing. Showing he could handle it? That only came under playoff fire. Rondo did just that.

Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers? Rajon ran the show. Triple-double on the board. Then, late in the fourth quarter, “Playoff Rondo” drained a deep three.

And off the court? He wasn’t just sitting back. Weeks after the Celtics’ playoff run had ended in the next round against the Miami Heat, the Kentucky native was setting up team workouts, showing new guys the ropes, and making sure they fit into Boston’s culture.

Keyon Dooling, who joined the squad in 2011, highlighted as much. Before seeing much else with the Celtics, he was struck by Rondo’s presence, calling him "the most under-appreciated leader in this league."

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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.