Celtics’ Rajon Rondo won’t return until after November

Oct 23, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) on the court before the start of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge joined Toucher and Rich on Boston’s FM 98.5 the Sports Hub Thursday morning.  Ainge told the radio duo that all-star point guard Rajon Rondo was not expected back until after November.

“He’s making great progress,” Ainge explained. “I don’t have a return date for him but I really like what I see in his attitude and his effort. He’s putting in the time to get better and he’s making steady progress. I’m not sure, I don’t see anything happening by the end of this month. I’m just not sure.”

Rondo partially tore his ACL in January.

He was cleared for “some” contact last week.

“I think that when we get into the middle of December it could be a week-by-week situation for him,” said Ainge. “He’s getting closer but he still hasn’t gained 100 percent of his strength back in that leg. We certainly don’t want to take any risks.”

Rondo appeared in 38 games for the Celtics last season. He averaged 13.7 points, a league-high 11.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.