Rajon Rondo Will Play In Celtics Opener

BOSTON (CBS) — It’s been just over four-and-a-half weeks since Rajon Rondo broke a bone in his left hand, but the Celtics point guard will play in Wednesday night’s season opener against the Brooklyn Nets.

Rondo underwent surgery in late September after suffering a left metacarpal fracture after a fall in the shower, and was expected to miss anywhere from six-to-eight weeks. But Rondo said from the start he would be back sooner, and as opening night drew closer, he kept hinting more and more that he would be back when the 2014-15 season got underway.

“He’s been able to do contact since last Thursday,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said before the game. “He’s as up to speed as he can be. He’s anxious to play.”

Rondo joked on Monday that there was a 79 percent chance he’d play on opening night, and then upped that to 83 percent when coach Stevens asked him what he should tell the media on Tuesday. Rondo told reporters on Tuesday that he would let them know if he was playing or not following his pregame nap.

That nap must have gone very well for No. 9, so he will be back in the starting lineup for Boston, who enters Year Two of a franchise rebuild.

Rondo, who is set to become a free agent after the season, missed 95 games over the last two seasons after tearing his ACL in January 2013. He played in 30 games for Boston last season, averaging 11.7 points, 9.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds over 33.3 minutes per game.

As the team’s captain, Rondo will address the crowd ahead of Wednesday’s opener.

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