WALTHAM — The Celtics sure enjoyed themselves at the Patriots game on Monday night. After Tuesday’s practice, Jason Terry dubbed coach Doc Rivers “the Bill Belichick of basketball,” Rivers called Rajon Rondo “our Tom Brady” and Rondo left believing he could’ve played in the NFL.

“I don’t take what those guys do lightly,” said Rondo, “but I think I could’ve played. I could’ve given it a shot.”

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Rondo grew up playing quarterback in football, point guard in basketball and pitcher in baseball before focusing on hoops at Eastern High (Louisville, Ky.) and Oak HIll Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).

“I didn’t think about playing at Kentucky,” said the former Wildcats basketball star. “High school days, but not college. When I got to college, it was just one-track minded, which was basketball and getting to the league.”

The closest Rondo came to playing college football was warming up Kentucky’s QB (Although, his brother Will Rondo played briefly at Murray State), but at least Rondo’s not putting himself in Brady’s class. “Quarterback and point guard are pretty much the same thing,” he said of the comparison, “but I don’t know about Tom Brady.”

In classic Rondo fashion, he ended his interview after Tuesday’s practice with one last quip that made everyone wonder whether he was ever serious for the previous five minutes.

“I don’t know Tom at all,” he said. “I tried to get his autograph. I just couldn’t reach him.”

Considering Rondo has attended Patriots practices in the past and developed a friendly relationship with avid Celtics fan Vince Wilfork, it’s hard to imagine he’d have a hard time getting Brady’s signature if he really wanted it.