Rajon Rondo Visits Knicks Practice, Mentors Jalen Brunson

NBA legend Rajon Rondo made a special appearance at the New York Knicks' first official practice of the season on Tuesday. Rondo, a two-time champion and potential Hall of Famer, has recently developed a relationship with the Knicks' point guard, Jalen Brunson.

Brunson spoke about his connection with Rondo, stating, "I got to talk to him, got to really get to know him this summer. I definitely watched him. He was just so creative and someone who was innovative in the way they play basketball. Definitely an icon when I was younger. So it was really cool to get to know him and his family."

Meanwhile, new Knicks center Andre Drummond reflected on the team's passionate fanbase during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Drummond recalled the overwhelming presence of Knicks supporters in Philadelphia during the Knicks' second-round sweep of the 76ers, noting, "It was crazy. It felt like an away game the whole series. They came down and took over the entire arena."

Drummond also commented on the widespread nature of the Knicks' fanbase, adding, "Crazy seeing some of the fans from [Philadelphia] even wearing Knicks jerseys, too, so the Knicks fanbase is just far and wide. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world. It’s the basketball Mecca, so they did what they were supposed to do."

Recent high-profile offseason moves, including LeBron James signing with the 76ers and Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to the Heat, have also brought attention to the Knicks. Both stars acknowledged Brunson and the Knicks during their respective Media Days on Monday.

Brunson responded to the praise, saying, "I really do appreciate it and I respect the hell out of them. It’s honestly really cool, and it’s a sign of respect. To hear that from those guys, I really do appreciate it. It’s just like a lot of things — when you hear praise, when you hear negativity, it has to go through one ear and out the other. You gotta continue to be the best version of yourself or people are gonna pass you. I really do appreciate it, it shows where I’ve grown, but still got a lot of work to do."