It's only been two weeks since Rajon Rondo left the Boston Celtics, but after more than eight years together, that probably feels like an eternity.
Rondo will return to Boston as a Dallas Maverick on Friday in what should be an emotional game for the point guard, who helped the Celtics win a championship in his time there. Often stoic, Rondo is hoping to subdue some of his feelings when he hits the TD Garden floor.
"Hopefully I won't be too emotional," Rondo said, as relayed by Tim MacMahon of ESPN. "Try not to cry a little bit, but I'm very excited to go back. Those fans are amazing there. If I do (tear up), hopefully the camera isn't on me too much. I'm going to try to blink a lot."
Rondo won't be the only one with ties to Boston in his return, as Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle won a title with Boston in 1986.
The Mavericks are 4-2 since acquiring Rondo and have won three consecutive games. Rondo's been a big part of that, averaging 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in six outings in blue and gray, which is still a strange look considering how long he spent in kelly green.