Rajon Rondo would make his LA Clippers debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, according to coach Ty Lue.
The Clippers acquired Rondo from Atlanta in an exchange that involved Lou Williams on the March 25 change deadline.
Both teams are without key players. The Lakers do not have Lebron James and Anthony Davis due to injuries. And Lue didn’t think baseman Patrick Beverley (knee) could come back and be with Rondo on the court. Beverley has missed the last 11 games due to injury. Head coach Serge Ibaka has also been sidelined for the past 10 games due to a back injury.
Rondo won a championship last season with the Lakers and will now participate in the Los Angeles rivalry on the other side with the Clippers.
“It’s different,” Rondo said about playing for the Clippers in the rivalry in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. “It’s a rivalry here in Los Angeles. But for the most part, I’ve received a lot of ‘welcome’. It’s different to come back to Los Angeles being a champion.”
Affected by an adductor injury, Rondo has been constantly working to learn the Clippers playbook while resting.
“Just watching what he catches,” Lue said of what he expects to see from Rondo. “It’s easy to have the plays in practice, but then you have a game on the go, it’s a little different. And I know how smart he is. Just seeing what he learns and just seeing what we can incorporate while he’s in the game and try to go from there. It will be good to see him on the track. “