Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)
Point guard Rajon Rondo will be expected to contribute during training camp with the Boston Celtics when players report to Newport.
But general manager Danny Ainge said Rondo’s role would be that of an assistant coach, with a greater focus on his rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Rondo underwent surgery in February.
The Celtics didn’t rule out Rondo returning for the start of the regular season next month, but are keeping the timing of his return subject to change based on how Rondo recovers.
“I don’t think we would ever succumb to the pressure of bringing back a player from an ACL too soon,” Ainge told 98.5 SportsHub Radio.
Ainge said he would be “shocked” if Rondo was ready for the first game of the regular season against the Toronto Raptors.
“We’ve got to do what’s right for him,” said Ainge, who drew parallels to the recovery of Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who sat out all of last season after tearing his ACL in April 2012. “He’s young — maybe if he was 37 and it was his last year, but he’s still so young. And he’s our best player. We can’t afford to make any mistakes in judgment on when to bring him back.”
