Rajon Rondo thinks Jared Sullinger is smartest rookie Celtics have had

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was quick to heap praise on rookie Jared Sullinger. Rondo called Sullinger "the smartest rookie we've had since I've been here." Rondo went on to praise not only Sullinger's intelligence on the court, but also said that he was very unselfish as well.

The Celtics selected Sullinger with the 21st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Sullinger played two years at Ohio State, where he was a two-time first-team All-American. Sullinger slid down draft boards due to concerns about the health of his back and a perceived lack of athleticism.

In the Celtics two preseason games in Europe, Sullinger has been a significant contributor. In their first game, he scored 16 points and added eight rebounds in 26 minutes, and in their second contest, he scored nine and grabbed seven boards in 18 minutes.

Even Kevin Garnett, who typically refuses to refer to rookies by their names, complimented Sullinger, saying, "Sully is a very intelligent player. Very, very high basketball IQ."

The Celtics take on the New York Knicks on Saturday, Oct. 13 in their next preseason contest.