Rajon Rondo - Interview : Beyond the arc 2011

On a team of high-energy players who aren't shy about expressing their intensity on the court, Rajon Rondo plays it cool. He rarely shows emotion, whether he is driving the lane for an improbable basket or tossing a lob for a game-winning alley-oop -- it's all just part of his game.

But underneath that unaffected demeanor is a fiery player with a surging desire to win. It may not always be easy to read Rondo's emotions, but there is no doubting his commitment to success.

After Rondo talked about his competitive nature with CSNNE.com's "Beyond the Arc," his teammates on the Boston Celtics shared what they most appreciate about his will to win.

bullet.gif Kendrick Perkins has been close friends with Rondo for years. He enjoys Rondo's personality both on and off the court.

"He's got like a quiet arrogance about him," Perkins said. "He doesn't talk or show too much emotion, but he's arrogant with it. It helps us a lot, because when he picks it up, he picks it up for everybody."

bullet.gif Delonte West was teammates with Rondo during his rookie year. After playing on opposing sides for three seasons, West appreciates his competitive nature - now that it isn't being used against them.

"His competitiveness is deceptive," West said. "He talks a lot, communicates, and does all the right things, but as far as showing his emotions, you couldn't tell. Like in comparison to KG, by his emotions or a certain action he does, you can tell he's out there competing. KG's into the game, whereas Rondo may not give you all that emotion but he's just as fierce inside. It's like a quiet confidence that you don't understand until you actually match up against him and you see, this guy is quietly really trying to beat me (laughs).

"It helps a lot because everyone is so focused on the Big Three, and you have another guy that's just sitting in the darkness and he's not trying to make any noise about it and draw attention to himself, but he's quietly one of the best point guards in the NBA and the world."

bullet.gif Glen Davis plays major minutes with the Celtics starters, and being on the court with Rondo helps him find his groove.

"He's just a floor general," Davis said. "He's a grinder. He wants to win and he has the urgency to win. You can just see it. He's grown tremendously. I've been knowing him for a while and I'm glad he's on my team. He's always pumping confidence in us, making us shoot the ball, telling us where we need to be at the right time and place."

bullet.gif Nate Robinson knows how important Rondo is to the Celtics success, so he takes their match ups in practice very seriously.

"He's not really cocky, but he knows that he's good," Robinson said. "That's something that every basketball player has in our system. That's what I love about him. He's very, very confident in himself. It motivates me to get him better every day [in practice], just try to give him the best look being the other guard, and trying to keep him on his toes so when he gets a look in the game, he doesn't have a drop-off."

bullet.gif Von Wafer knows Rondo is going to give it his all on the court, which pushes him to do the same. He has been motivated by Rondo's recent offensive attack.

"Rondo's been big," he said. "I think he could easily average 20 points, but he's been a distributor. But he's been attacking more, scoring more. I think that's good for us. He's a tough player. It motivates you because you've got to come out there ready to play because you're going to look bad when everyone else is playing hard and you aren't. I don't want to look bad out there."

bullet.gif Avery Bradley came into his rookie season hungry to work hard. He was pleased to find out Rondo was on the same page.

"[I like] how hard he plays, how much he loves the game," he said. "I learn to always go hard from him. He's even competitive in practice and some guys aren't like that, but he is. It caught me off guard. All those guys, they're competitive about everything. It was weird because that's how I am and all my friends weren't like that. Now being at this level, everybody is like that."

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[x813xGODz]

She wants his dick...

[keverinkarama]

lol another chick working her thang on rondo.

[winkie630ma]

he loves chinese food.. Rajon Rondo you're gna looooove me then! :)

COME TO HONG KONG FOR A VISIT WITH THE REST OF YOURE TEAM!!

[Alexwkj]

Yay! Glad to know Rondo loves Chinese cuisine. BEIJING CHICKEN!

[fayyad8]

@Connor112395 nova gas

[CLIK90]

I totally love the way he is!! Rondo is the best!!

[Connor112395]

1:30 what is going on with his face?

[trinigrl09]

@sadsap56 no.....why do so many accuse others of being gay??? it seems like these people's gaydar is always on because they may be gay......why else would it be on 24/7

[Rockhopper1233]

42 people know wht real talk is . 1 is a bieber fan

[MahoganyLuvsMikeyJ]

Lol I'm Jealous.. She Flirtin More Than A Mofo And He Starting To Get Guishy.. UGH Ik He Hit.. White Girls -:(

[SpecialWire]

nice tits

[NBAKaizer]

"So what's hot in your wardrobe?" mmmmm i see where your getting at XD