Former NBA Star Rajon Rondo Arrested on Gun, Drug Charges

Rajon Rondo, No. 1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers, controls the ball against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. on Feb. 2, 2022. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Indiana State Police arrested former NBA champion Rajon Rondo on Jan. 28 in Indiana for unlawful possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, police said.

All the charges against the 37-year-old are misdemeanors.

The former guard was initially stopped for a traffic violation in Jackson County, Indiana, police said in a news release.

Mr. Rondo was driving a black 2022 Tesla that was pulled over by an Indiana State Police trooper on Sunday afternoon after another driver reported the vehicle traveling recklessly on I-65 southbound in Bartholomew County, according to police.

During the stop, the trooper smelled marijuana odor coming from the car and initiated a vehicle search. Drug paraphernalia, suspected marijuana, and a firearm were found in Mr. Rondo’s possession, leading to his arrest, according to the release.

The four-time All-Star was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he immediately posted a $700 bond and was released.

A minor in Mr. Rondo’s vehicle at the time was released to a family member. The age of the minor and their connection to Mr. Rondo was not revealed by police.

Mr. Rondo’s initial court hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 27 in Jackson County Superior Court.

Past Record

Mr. Rondo was prohibited from carrying a firearm over an existing noncontact court order that was issued in August 2023. It was the second protective order issued against him.

The initial order came in 2022 when Ashley Bachelor, Mr. Rondo’s ex-partner and the mother of his children, said Mr. Rondo became enraged and threatened her life with a gun, according to the protective order.

Ms. Bachelor asked a judge that Mr. Rondo seek anger management classes, counseling, and a mental health evaluation.

She alleged that following an argument, Mr. Rondo caused damage to her property and told her, “You’re dead.” Ms. Bachelor said in the protective order request that the former basketball player was yelling at the children, asking them why they were scared of him while he had a gun in his hand.

“I am extremely fearful for my safety and for the safety of my children,” Ms. Bachelor wrote in her request for a protective order, per TMZ. “Rajon has a history of volatile, erratic, explosive behavior. He is verbally, emotionally, and financially abusive.”

Two days after the alleged incident, a judge granted Ms. Bachelor the protective order. The judge ordered Mr. Rondo not to communicate and to stay at least 500 feet away from her.

That emergency protective order was dismissed in June 2022 after both parties “reached an agreement,” according to court records. In March 2023, another protective order was taken out against Mr. Rondo by the same woman. That case ended when the sides agreed to the currently binding court order in August.

Mr. Rondo was not punished by the league for that incident, though he has not played since it happened.

Mr. Rondo started his high school career in Louisville, Kentucky, and returned to the state as a star guard with the Kentucky Wildcats. He was a first-round pick of the Phoenix Suns in 2006 and played 16 seasons in the NBA, winning championships in 2008 with the Boston Celtics and 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. His final season was 2021–2022 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sports Illustrated reported.

He averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals over 957 career appearances.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.