The 2007-08 Boston Celtics were one of the greatest basketball teams of all time and featured multiple Hall of Famers, including Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. However, the center on that team, Kendrick Perkins, believes they should have one more.
Perkins made the Hall of Fame case for former teammate Rajon Rondo on a recent episode of "Road Trippin,'" claiming Rondo deserves a spot if Damian Lillard makes it in.
"If Damian Lillard gets into the Hall of Fame, Rajon Rondo better get into the Hall of Fame," Perkins argued. "One could argue that Rondo even had a better career than Damian Lillard... He better get into the Hall of Fame."
Not only was Rondo the point guard of those 2008 Celtics at just 22 years old, but he was also one of the most dominant two-way point guards in the NBA for several years.
Should Rajon Rondo be in the HOF?
Kendrick Perkins says if Dame is in, Rondo’s gotta be in too. The stats don’t lie…4x All-Star, 4x All-Defensive, and the only player to win a ring with the Celtics AND the Lakers. ☘️💜
Is Rondo’s career more impressive than Dame’s?… pic.twitter.com/2qFj7Gq9CS
— Road Trippin’ Show (@RoadTrippinShow) March 28, 2026
As Perkins notes, Rondo's peak was impressive. He made four straight All-Star teams, led the league in assists per game three times, won two NBA championships and was on four NBA All-Defensive teams.
The issue is that his prime was relatively brief and he missed a good amount of games with injuries. He also stopped being a dominant player once he turned 30 and quickly became a journeyman after Boston traded him in December 2014.
Lillard is a far more decorated player, so Perkins' comparison doesn't make a ton of sense. For starters, Lillard has more than twice as many All-Star appearances with nine. He also won NBA Rookie of the Year, made seven All-NBA teams, had five top 10 MVP finishes and is one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in NBA history.
Rondo probably needed a few more good years to cement his case, especially since he was never an elite scorer or shooter. Perkins' defense of his former teammate is admirable, but perhaps too much of a stretch.
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