NBA News: Rajon Rondo Out With Back Injury, Unlikely To Return To Dallas
Rondo has suffered a back injury that will see him miss the rest of the playoffs.
The Dallas Mavericks have ruled out point guard Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with a back injury, putting into serious doubt his future with team. With Rondo becoming a free agent this July, he’s very much unlikely to be playing in Dallas again.
Dallas are down 0-2 in their first round match-up against the Houston Rockets in the playoffs and Rondo has seen limited time in both losses. He was benched after playing less than a minute in the second half, after he picked up two quick fouls defending James Harden.
He also picked up a technical foul during the game but the incident which would lead to the most questions about his motivation playing for Dallas came just four minutes after the game had started when he was called for an eight second back court violation. There was no pressure by the Rockets on the previous play and on the ensuing possession, Jason Terry scored a wide open three pointer, forcing Mavs coach Rick Carlisle to bench him soon after till the middle of the second quarter.
"He sustained a back injury basically at the 11-minute mark of the first quarter last night. He attempted to take a charge on James Harden, hit the ground and from that point going forward probably should not have played any more, but he did. He wasn't able to play his game or play as well as he can play,” Carlisle told ESPN.
Rondo has had a troubled stint in Dallas failing to fit in well with Monta Ellis and also having served a one game suspension for a shouting match with Carlisle during a game in February. The Mavs traded for him in December from the Celtics having given up a starter in Jameer Nelson, backup point Jae Crowder, centre Brendan Wright, a 2015 first round pick and a 2016 second round pick.
The former Celtic is now widely expected to sign for the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, which through Kobe Bryant, have expressed their interest in signing him.
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