After a successful 16 year NBA career, he returned to school to finish what he started!
Nearly two decades after dazzling fans at Rupp Arena and across the NBA with his sharp court vision and fierce competitiveness, Rajon Rondo has returned to the University of Kentucky (UK)—not to make a play, but to fulfill a promise to himself. The two-time NBA champion and former All-Star point guard officially earned his bachelor’s degree in communications during the university’s May 2025 commencement ceremony, AfroTech reports.
At 39, Rondo stood among fellow graduates, a moment twenty years in the making since he first arrived on campus in 2004 as a standout freshman. Though he left after just two seasons to enter the 2006 NBA Draft—where he was selected 21st overall and later traded to the Boston Celtics—he never forgot his goal of completing his college education. Now, as a retiree with a 16-year professional career, two championship rings (Boston Celtics in 2008 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2020), and over $45 million in earnings, Rondo has added another title to his legacy: college graduate.
His return was made possible through the Cawood Ledford Scholarships, part of UK Athletics’ Post-Eligibility program. Since 1989, this initiative has allowed over 160 Wildcats to finish what they started, providing full tuition and academic support to former athletes ready to reclaim their cap and gown moment.
Social media lit up with love for the NBA star turned graduate.
“I LOVE that you walked the stage for graduation! That’s so refreshing! Congratulations to you on such an amazing accomplishment!” wrote one fan.
Rondo joins six other former Kentucky student-athletes who returned this year to complete their degrees, proving that dreams don’t expire—they just evolve. His journey is a powerful reminder that no matter how high you climb, there’s strength and pride in returning to your roots to finish what you started.
And as always, we celebrate those who remind us that excellence isn’t just about accolades and headlines—it’s about intention, perseverance, and the will to follow through.
Cover photo: 2x NBA Champion Rajon Rondo Becomes College Graduate 20 Years After Starting At University of Kentucky/Photo credit: Kentucky Men’s Basketball/Instagram