Chris Paul Praises Rival Rajon Rondo's Elite Passing Ability

The longtime NBA foes have a storied rivalry, but Paul acknowledges Rondo's exceptional court vision.

Mar. 1, 2026 at 8:39am

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Despite their longstanding feud, NBA legend Chris Paul praised rival Rajon Rondo's exceptional passing ability and court vision during a recent podcast appearance. Paul highlighted Rondo's signature behind-the-back passes and his ability to control the tempo of games, even when not scoring himself. The two players have a well-documented rivalry dating back to the late 2000s, including a physical altercation in 2018, but Paul's latest comments suggest a newfound respect between the former superstars.

Why it matters

The rivalry between Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo is one of the most well-known in the NBA over the past two decades. For Paul to put aside that history and openly praise Rondo's elite playmaking skills is a notable gesture, indicating a potential thawing of tensions between the two players.

The details

Paul and Rondo's rivalry dates back to the late 2000s, with an early flashpoint being Rondo's exclusion from the 2008 Olympic "Redeem Team" roster that included Paul. The rivalry escalated over the years, including a heated exchange in 2009 and a physical altercation in 2018 when the two were playing for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. However, in a recent podcast appearance, Paul was quick to acknowledge Rondo's exceptional court vision and passing ability, highlighting his signature behind-the-back passes and ability to control the tempo of games.

  • The rivalry between Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo dates back to the late 2000s.
  • The two players were involved in a physical altercation in 2018 when they played for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Paul's recent praise of Rondo's skills came during a podcast appearance in February 2026.

The players

Chris Paul

An NBA legend and future Hall of Famer who has had a longstanding rivalry with Rajon Rondo.

Rajon Rondo

A former NBA star known for his exceptional court vision and passing ability, who has had a well-documented feud with Chris Paul.

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What they’re saying

“When you say court vision too. Rondo, I'll say Rondo. Rondo's got one of the sickest passes ever when he threw that behind-the-back pass to the corner.”

— Chris Paul

“If you watch games over the years. You'll see the teams over the years, you'll see the team get the rebound, and you might see me like, 'Yo, yo, yo, let me get it.' Rondo was sort of the same, right. Like, let me get the ball, let me get the ball. That's because, everybody is like, 'Oh, he's got to have the ball.' It's like, no. We all have a job to do, I know who I am. I'm not a finisher.”

— Chris Paul

What’s next

There are no clear future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

Despite their longstanding rivalry, Chris Paul's willingness to publicly praise Rajon Rondo's elite playmaking skills suggests a newfound respect between the two former NBA superstars, signaling a potential thawing of tensions between the two players.