When the New Orleans Pelicans began their search for a new head coach, few expected Rajon Rondo's name to surface so prominently. But according to his former Boston Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett, the timing couldn't be more perfect.

On a recent episode of his "KG Certified" podcast, Garnett threw his full support behind Rondo, who is reportedly a finalist for the Pelicans' head coaching vacancy. "I think the Pelicans reached out to him, and they're going to interview him for a head coaching position," Garnett shared. "I actually think he'd do well too."

The Big Ticket didn't stop there. He suggested that even if New Orleans goes in another direction for the top job, Rondo deserves a spot on the bench. "If they don't make him a head coach, they should consider him for an assistant," Garnett added.

Drawing from their championship run together in 2008, Garnett highlighted Rondo's evolution as a player and leader. "Rondo not only has the intelligence, but the knowledge and he's grown a patience," he explained. "We've had to have a certain level of patience with Rondo's growth and schooling him and helping him grow into the player that we all know him to be. He went on to win a couple rings and had a dope career."

Perhaps most compelling was Garnett's take on why Rondo would resonate with today's young Pelicans roster. "I think this is great timing for where the young Pelicans are too," Garnett noted. "Rondo's young enough to still have some understanding to relate to those young dudes."

For fans of both the Celtics legend and the game itself, the prospect of Rondo trading his jersey for a clipboard is an intriguing one. Whether as head coach or assistant, the four-time All-Star's basketball IQ has never been in question—and now, with Garnett's endorsement, the conversation around his coaching future is only getting louder.