Boston Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo could be available on January 17 when the Celtics host long-time arch rival Los Angeles Lakers for his possible season debut, according to league sources close to Yahoo! Sports.
Rondo, the only remnant of the Celtics 2008 title team, did not disclose when he'll return to the floor but confided that his keen and confidence are back to full strength. He expressed concerns, though, about this conditioning.
"It's just a humbling experience," Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports quoted Rondo as saying during the Celtics' shootaround on Friday morning.
Rondo underwent surgery on February 13 last year after tearing his right ACL in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. He was cleared to practice on December 13 and has been working out to regain game form, including an extensive practice in Denver on Monday.
He had even considered playing in the NBA Developmental League just to build on his confidence and test his knee.
"I feel like I'm ready now, but I'm not in shape," he told Yahoo! Sports. "I can go out there and I can give the team 10 minutes. I want to be productive out there. I don't want to limp or drag behind because of my cardio. That would be hurting the team.
"I don't want to be selfish and go out there and not be able to go up and down every possession and give it all I got. That's what I can't do right now."
Rondo is the only player left from the last title squad of the Celtics in 2008. Former franchise player Paul Pierce is gone along with Kevin Garnett after they were traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer. Even coach Doc Rivers has left, now coaching the Los Angeles Clippers. Other stalwarts of that championship team like Ray Allen, Kendrick Perkins and Tony Allen are also playing for other franchises.
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