Celtics center Kendrick Perkins, blocking LeBron James’ shot during last year’s playoffs, has become a dominant defender.

The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

Last year, it was the Big Three.

They were the ones that carried the Celtics to their first world championship in 22 years. They were the focal point, the three glamour players who were this generation’s version of Bird, McHale and Parish. They were the Big Three, and they not only changed the culture of the Celtics, but they brought the Celtics back in our hearts and minds.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

A new Big Three for a new era.

But guess what?

It’s no longer just the Big Three.

Not with the emergence of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins.

Now it’s the Big Three, plus two. Or the Big Five. Or any other brand you can come up with.

Or maybe it’s just the Celtics.

Once upon a time, Perkins was essentially viewed as little more than a career backup center, a big body without a lot skills and questionable athleticism. He first came to the Celtics in 2003 out of a Texas high school, and via a trade by Memphis, who had taken him with the 27th pick in the draft.

And it was his fate to not only be on a bad team, but to be overshadowed by Al Jefferson, another former high school kid. Perkins was overweight then, not in the best of shape, a little undersized, and in the parlance of the game, he was a project.

In short, he didn’t figure to be a starter on the best team in basketball. Instead, he figured to be just another high school kid who could have benefited by playing some college basketball, one of those big kids who was so unfinished — in the league because of his body, not his ability.

There’s little question that Perkins benefited last year from the acquisition of Garnett, a multi-skilled superstar who not only drew everyone’s attention, but also took pressure off Perkins. He wasn’t being asked to be great. He was being asked to bang inside and be a basketball version of a garbage man. And as the year went along, he seemed to grow into the role.

Now?

Now he’s better than that.

Whether it’s more confidence, more experience, in better shape, or something more undefinable, he’s playing the best basketball of his life. He’s tough. He’s learned to keep the ball up — no small thing for a big man. More important, he’s learned he can make a very sweet living in this basketball world by staying within five feet of the basket.

Then there’s Rondo.

For we are watching a star in the making in Rondo, this young guard who is exploding in his third season, this young guard who has become a huge part of this Celtics team in ways he never was a year year ago. Sunday night against the Knicks, he had 18 points in third quarter alone, on his way to 26 for the game. Friday night he had 15 assists against the Bulls. Earlier in the month, he had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 17 assists in a game — the kind of stats that all but jump out and grab you by the throat.

But it’s more than just the stats, even if they’re as gaudy as Christmas lights hanging from the tree.

And it’s more than the fact that no one ever expected Rondo to become this good when he left Kentucky after his sophomore year for the NBA, picked 21st in the draft by Phoenix, then traded to the Celtics. Back when he was uniformly seen as an undersized guard who couldn’t shoot, quick and athletic certainly, but in no way considered a sure thing to ever do anything significant in the NBA.

It’s the fact that Rondo is playing right now like one of the best point guards in the entire NBA, not just a young player with a future as big as the nighttime sky. Last year he had his moments, certainly, but he was an afterthought to the Big Three, as though they were the headliners and he was simply the opening act.

Not now.

Now Rondo is an integral part of the team. He brings great quickness. He brings great athleticism. He also brings the rare ability to get to where he wants to go on the court. There’s no overstating this. Most players cannot do this, even many of the so-called great ones.

Rondo can.

It’s his ability to go by people and get into the lane that’s the fulcrum his game springs from. You could see that the other night against the Knicks, when he got to the rim eight times for scores in the third quarter alone. Interestingly, he is so quick that he’s able to get by defenders even when they sag off him, not respecting his jump shot.

That’s the only real flaw, certainly, the sense that you wouldn’t want your life to be determined by Rondo’s ability to knock down two jumpers in a row. That, and an overall lack of experience. His shooting is his Achilles’ heel, but it’s already better than his rookie year and figures only to get better.

But it’s his emergence as a great passer that’s beginning to elevate his game to a place where only the great point guards live.

Overstated?

Maybe.

But I suspect it won’t be for long.

Rondo’s passing is a gift that keeps getting more refined, one that’s growing in front of our eyes.

And it’s one of the reasons why this team is better than it was a year ago, only one win away from the most consecutive wins in franchise history, this team that’s seen Perkins get better and Rondo on the precipice of stardom, and now is in the process of chasing NBA history as well as another title.

For it’s not just about the Big Three.

Not anymore.

breynold@projo.com