Eric Gordon to rejoin Hornets Saturday, '90 percent' sure debut by end of December

Eric Gordon said he is "90 percent" sure he will play in a game before the end of the December. (Harry How/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Hornets' Eric Gordon is expected to rejoin the team on Saturday and although General Manager Dell Demps wouldn't estimate when he would play in a game, the shooting guard predicted he will make his season debut by the end of December.

Gordon said this week that he is "90 percent sure" that he will be in a game before the end of the year, according to John Reid of The Times-Picayune.

Demps said on Gordon's return to game-shape, "he's close but he's not quite there yet."

Gordon has yet to play this season because of recurring knee issues. He had been going through rehabilitation workouts with three different trainers in Los Angeles for the past month and said that he's no longer experiencing any pain in his knee.

"Now, I’m in position to really get back with the team and really get things going as far as practicing and getting back to playing. [I]'m more than 90 percent sure I'm going to play before this month is over. That's what I'm striving for and I'm starting now to turn things up.''

The Hornets play the Spurs on Friday and then the Pacers on Saturday, so the team will likely get a day off on Sunday and Monday could be Gordon's first full practice in more than two months.