Already due to be without LeBron James for a stretch of games, the Los Angeles Lakers also played without Rajon Rondo on Thursday because of a sprained right ring finger suffered on Christmas Day.
Lakers head coach Luke Walton indicated Rondo’s return hinged on his pain threshold. Walton suggested the veteran point guard could be back on the court by the weekend, or miss an extended period.
Then on Friday the Lakers announced Rondo underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament that was a result of the Grade 3 sprain. He’s projected to miss four to five weeks, which was the same timeline provided after a November operation to repair a fracture in his right hand.