Next month at this time, it is possible that Rajon Rondo could have a couple of games under his belt for the Boston Celtics as the long road back to his return continued on Sunday.
Despite having a concrete return date in place, Rondo participated in his first full practice on Sunday for Boston since tearing the ACL in his right knee back in January. And while January 2014 is not a given either, speculation is running wild about the 27-year old Rondo getting back on the floor for the Celtics.
“I don’t know a timetable,” said Celtics president Danny Ainge, according to Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. "None of us do and none of us can. As we can recall from every one of these incidents that have happened from the past few years, it’s all just guessing. So it’s sort of silly to speculate.
I don’t anticipate him playing in any games this month, for sure. I also don’t know if there’s a time in January or a time in February. I really don’t know the answer. A lot of it is going to depend on how he responds to this next phase.”
Rondo back at practice on Sunday was part of a busy weekend for the four-time All-Star point guard: he was cleared for full contact Friday, leaving the ongoing debate to continue surrounding his comeback and how soon he can be back on the floor for Boston.
While much has changed for the Celtics since Rondo tore his ACL on January 27, 2013, during a game with the Miami Heat — from the departure of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers, to the hiring of Brad Stevens – so has the landscape of the Atlantic Division with both the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets playing abysmal basketball so far this season.
Boston is 11-14, which is good for first place in the division
And while rebuilding or revamping the roster is no secret around the league, Ainge has maintained all along that Rondo is not going anywhere.
But now with Rondo playing in his first practice with the Celtics, the only place Boston hopes Rajon Rondo is going is back on the floor.
