The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t have to try hard to prevent Rajon Rondo from rushing his return from a sore calf that has bothered him since the second week of the preseason. All they had to do was tell him the most recent example of someone with a similar injury returning too soon: Brooklyn Nets forward and former Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant.
Rondo, who was expected to play on Sunday but was scratched following a workout on Saturday, told reporters at Monday’s Lakers practice that the team’s medical staff let him know the similarities between his current condition and the one that eventually led to Durant’s torn Achilles during the NBA Finals in June.
Rajon Rondo said once he learned his calf injury bore some similarities to Kevin Durant’s, which became a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, he backed off it. He’s been patient and is feeling closer to a return. Lakers have him as questionable for tomorrow.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) November 11, 2019
While Rondo’s return seemed imminent as recently as this weekend, it’s clear that both he and the Lakers training staff are taking a most cautious approach with the veteran point guard in his 14th season.