Rajon Rondo made his triumphant return to TD Garden on Friday as the Boston Celtics point guard played his first game since tearing his ACL last season. He played 19 minutes, putting up eight points and four assists in a quiet return. There was plenty of reasons for Rondo to just pull a Derrick Rose and sit the entire season, but the point guard was determined to play this year and now Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant are praising his perseverance.
"It's always good to see your little brother, man," Garnett said, via the New York Post. "I worry about his health. I know he wants to play. I know he wants to help that team. I try to keep an eye out for the young boys [in Boston], just to see how they're doing. I know he's eager to play, and I know he's eager to get back out. My only concern is always health-wise. Rondo knows his body, he knows himself. I'm just glad he's still able to fulfill his dream and play the game that he loves. Anytime, that's first and foremost. Everything else is secondary."
Rondo's return comes at the right time for the Boston Celtics. The team is struggling with their record continuing to drop. As the Celtics toy with a rebuilding year, many wondered if Rondo would even bother stepping onto the court. Facing similar questions is Lakers' star Bryant. Currently out with a fractured knee, the All-Star is saying the record is not a factor when considering a return and praises Rondo for being just like him.
"From what I understand he's an a**hole, like me," Bryant said, via Serena Winters of Lakers Nation.
Rondo told reporters after the Celtics, Lakers matchup that he certainly considered that a compliment from the NBA legend. Bryant is currently still sitting sidelined and waiting to be re-evaluated by the team doctors when the Lakers return from their current road trip. Bryant told reporters that right now he is doing his best to get back on the court as quickly as possible while not risking yet another injury.
"The only thing I can afford to consider is getting better, getting stronger," Bryant said, via Bleacher Report. "I can't allow myself to think any other way. I can only think about the next step. To do anything else becomes distracting if you allow yourself, if you give yourself wiggle room to not push yourself as hard as you possibly can. To think about sitting out and this, that and the other, your motivation is all wrong. I refuse to think that way."