We've been told over and over again that Rajon Rondo is an enigma.

He is a brilliant point guard shrouded in mystery and we all want to know more about him. The thing is, it's tough to get answers. At least it is if you go to him. To learn about the man behind the many spectacular triple-doubles, no-look passes and beautiful ball fakes, you have to go to the ones who know him best. You have to look within the Celtics locker room but beyond Rondo himself.

You know the deal with his game by now. Originally thought to be the young point guard who lucked out by being surrounded by three future Hall of Famers, Rondo's game has grown and evolved to a place where he causes discussion wherever people are talking about the NBA. Why can't he shoot free throws? Which point guard would you rather have on your team? The Celtics got lucky locking him up when they did. Should he look to score more? Why is he always off in his own world?

This past Friday night, the visiting locker room at the Air Canada Centre served as the setting for learning more about the Celtics point guard.

Because Rondo is, well, Rondo, there wasn't any speaking with him prior to the game during media availability. That doesn't really ever happen. He chooses not to, following in the footsteps of veteran Kevin Garnett. Because the Celtics lost to the Raptors, there wasn't really much talking from Rondo after the game, either.

With Ray Allen not with the team because of that ankle injury, Paul Pierce nowhere to be found before the game and Avery Bradley hosting a mini-scrum by his locker with reporters all interested in the hot streak he's been on, Keyon Dooling was my target.

Dooling is a 12-year NBA vet who has been in six NBA locker rooms and currently serves as the vice-president of the NBA Players Association. He's been around. He knows what's up.

He knows all about the public perception of Rondo. He also knows how unimportant all of that is to the 15 guys in the Celtics locker room. Dooling praised Rondo's competitiveness and burning desire to be the best, while also using the example of another Hall of Fame point guard known for his toughness and not for his affable personality.

"It's funny because there were a lot of people who didn't necessarily talk before the game. John Stockton was a guy who never talked before the game, never signed autographs or anything like that and he was known as a gentleman and a saint so the spin that Rondo has is definitely a misconception. If you ask the guys in the locker room, I'd tell you that everybody is with him. If I have to go down a dark alley, I want to go down there with him. As a matter of fact, behind him because he's a great leader."

That wasn't the only reference Dooling made to one of Utah's finest, though.

"I haven't seen a point guard run the pick and roll like him and Kevin Garnett since Stockton and Malone."

If he's getting it done for his team on the court, has all of their respect in the locker room and continues to post gaudy numbers that place him in the company of the best floor generals to ever play the game, why does it matter if he wants to smile while facing the media? Dooling was quick to point out that Rondo isn't the only NBA superstar to be painted in a negative light by certain media members, bringing LeBron James into the conversation.

"That's unfortunate, you know what I mean," Dooling said. "It's a misconception. One of the greatest players, one of the top two players in our league is known as a master panicker and a guy who can't finish down in the clutch and he's habitually 30, seven and seven. We may be looking at the best player in our generation. The media can definitely paint the picture that they want. They can vilify you or they can build you up, but that doesn't mean that's who you are."

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