Rajon Rondo Return Update: Boston Celtics Star “Pretty Close” To Returning, Could Play In NBA D-League

Rajon Rondo revealed that he is "pretty close" to returning to the Boston Celtics, the Boston Globe reported.

Rondo, who has been sidelined since tearing his ACL in his right knee in January last year, said that his condition is getting better each day since he was cleared to practice three weeks ago, but he admitted that he is still far from his desired game shape.

"I'm better than last week when I talked to you guys," Rondo said. "I'm still getting my endurance but I'm getting pretty close, feeling good, feeling better."

The 27-year-old point guard also confirmed previous reports suggesting that he is considering playing in the NBA D-League, saying that a stint with the Celtics affiliate Maine Red Claws could help him improve his conditioning quickly.

"I think that's what the D-League is for," Rondo said. "I'd probably be the first guy to do that, but it doesn't make a difference. I want to make sure I'm healthy and I handle it the right way. I don't want my first [game-like action] to be with the Celtics. I haven't had a preseason. I haven't had a training camp. Right now, this is pretty much my training camp."

Playing in the D-League was initially mentioned by Boston coach Brad Stevens, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge stressed that Rondo was the one who brought up the idea, as he is aching to test his knee in a game-like environment.

"He's anxious to practice and to play. It was his idea [to consider Maine], actually, to go practice with the Red Claws and possibly play with Maine Red Claws at some point. But those are still in discussion. I'm not sure when he would do that, but that's probably the next step," Ainge said in an ESPN interview.

Ainge also added that Rondo even tried to convince team officials to play with him just to experience 5-on-5 action, while the rest of his teammates were on a break.

"It's funny, about 10 days ago he was looking for the guys in the office to get their gear on to go down and play 5-on-5 against him. There's not enough practice time -- there has been 5-on-5 practice, but we're not playing game-like and going up and down,"

Rondo, who averaged 13.7 points and 11.1 assists per game last season, is scheduled to travel with the team in their upcoming five-game road trip that will start Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.