Rajon Rondo Injury Update: Boston Celtics Star to Return Before All-Star Break, Shrugs Off Latest NBA Trade Rumors

Rajon Rondo announced last week that he will return before the 2014 All-Star break, but the Boston Celtics superstar did not give a specific comeback date.

Yahoo Sports reported on Friday that Rondo will make his much awaited comeback in Boston's game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 17, but the All-Star point guard denied the report.

"I'm not sure where that came from," Rondo told The Boston Globe.

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, who is eagerly awaiting the return of the 27-year-old point guard, also insisted that the team has yet to set a specific return date.

"I have not heard that from him or from anybody who would have that information," Steven said. "We never talked about a specific date. I haven't heard from our organization that a date was targeted."

As for his current condition, Rondo said that his knee is responding very well as he is not experiencing any swelling, but the superstar point guard admitted that he is still struggling to get back in shape.

"I haven't had any swelling. I'm wearing my brace. At times when I play, it doesn't feel like I have it on. No setbacks. It's just, I'm taking my time," Rondo said. "I'm just trying to get back into shape. I haven't played ball in 12 months. You can do all the cardio, treadmill, running you want, it's still different from basketball shape."

Once he makes his return from a yearlong hiatus due to an ACL tear in his right knee, Rondo will officially assume the role of being the face of the Celtics franchise after the team traded veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets during the offseason.

Previous rumors suggested that the rebuilding Celtics could also shop Rondo before the trade deadline or before he becomes a free agent in 2015.

The Knicks were reportedly anticipating that Rondo will ask the Celtics to trade him before hitting free agency, but Rondo shrugged off the trade speculations surrounding him, saying that he is happy in Boston right now.

"I don't really judge what everybody else did," Rondo said. "I've been in this situation for a long time. I don't really like change. I'm comfortable with the staff and the players. Coach and I are great, and we talk back and forth a lot."