Rajon Rondo Injury: Updates on Mavericks Star's Knee and Return

Although the Dallas Mavericks remain comfortably inside the Western Conference playoff picture, trading for Rajon Rondo so far hasn't provided the boost necessary to compete with the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies for the top seed.

Now comes news that Rondo suffered a hyperextended left knee in Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors. 

Continue for updates.

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Rondo Practices with Team

Tuesday, April 7

Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com reported that Rondo practiced as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

On April 6, Sneed reported comments from head coach Rick Carlisle, who said that Rondo rode an exercise bike and that the team was hopeful that Rondo would practice on Tuesday.

On April 4, Sneed passed along the news that Rondo was out with a hyperextended left knee.

It's a bit tough to determine whether the Mavs are a demonstrably better team having added Rondo.

According to NBA.com, Dallas had an offensive rating of 113.6 and a defensive rating of 105.1 before trading for the four-time All-Star. Since the deal, the Mavericks have become a worse team offensively, but they have improved on the defensive end.

A few months after his arrival, Rondo broke the orbital bone in his left eye after teammate Richard Jefferson inadvertently kneed him in the face. That injury came with a somewhat-lengthy layoff, so for the Mavs to lose Rondo again will be a bit frustrating.

To some extent, regardless of how Rondo performs during the regular season, the important thing for the Mavericks is that they have their team healthy for the playoffs. 

Historically, Rondo has been a better player in the postseason than in the regular season. As long as he's healthy for the playoffs and delivers when it counts, Mavs fans won't be concerned with what the team did in the buildup.

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