Report: Pelicans’ Rajon Rondo Out 4–6 Weeks With Sports Hernia

Rajon Rondo is expected to miss 4–6 weeks after having surgery.

New Orleans Pelicans point guard Rajon Rondo had surgery for a sports hernia injury and is expected to miss 4–6 weeks, The Vertical’s Shams Charania reports.

Rondo, 31, saw a specialist on Monday after injuring himself during Friday’s preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Celtics star is expected to start at point guard after signing with the Pelicans in free agency, but will miss the start of the season, which begins Oct. 18 for New Orleans.

The Pelicans had planned to slide Jrue Holiday to shooting guard alongside Rondo, and it’s unclear how that plan will be impacted in the short term. Ian Clark, E’Twaun Moore and Tony Allen are among New Orleans’ backcourt options. The Pelicans are angling for a playoff spot this season behind the frontline of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins and could suffer without Rondo’s distribution skills in the earlygoing.

Rondo signed a one-year deal with New Orleans worth $3.3 million after averaging 7.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season for the Chicago Bulls.