Former (And Temporary) Suns Draft Pick Announces Retirement

Remember when Rajon Rondo was a Phoenix Sun?

PHOENIX -- Phoenix Suns legend Rajon Rondo is announcing his retirement from the game of basketball.

Rondo - who spent a whopping few moments with the Suns before being traded during the 2006 NBA Draft to the Boston Celtics - announced his retirement on the "All The Smoke" podcast.

"Yeah, I'm done. I can't. I'd rather spend time with my kids," said Rondo (h/t CBS Sports).

"What a time, it was definitely something that I never took for granted when I was in the game. I loved every minute of it, and I appreciate the brotherhood that I was able to share and bond and grow with over the years. I've learned so much in this game and it's made me the man who I am today... I tell people all the time, this wasn't a dream of mine, it was a goal. I was able to lock in, stay disciplined, I didn't party a lot in college. But it was worth the sacrifice of me getting to where I wanted to be in life."

Rondo was made the 21st overall pick in 2006 before being traded to Boston (along with Brian Grant) for a future first-round selection.

“It’s pretty simple. There were four or five guys we were interested in, but they were off the board,” said Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni. after the move.

“We love the group of players we have and want to keep them together.

“We want go to battle with the guys from last year’s team and we are getting back one of the top players in the league – Amaré Stoudemire. We think we are real close to playing for an NBA championship with the team we have.”

Rondo eventually won two NBA titles with four All-Star appearances to his name. He last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022 and just turned 38.