Friday night will be an emotional one at TD Garden. Nobody knows that better than Rajon Rondo.
Rondo will be returning for the first time as a member of the Dallas Mavericks to the arena he called home for the first eight-plus seasons of his NBA career. The point guard, who played his final game for the Boston Celtics just two weeks ago, is well aware of the emotions that go along with these types of homecomings.
“Hopefully I won’t be too emotional, try not to cry a little bit, but I’m very excited to go back,” Rondo told reporters Wednesday, via ESPN.com. “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.”
Friday’s game will be similar to several played on Causeway Street over the past two seasons, as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers all were welcomed back to Boston with raucous ovations from the Celtics faithful. Though he now plays his home games at the American Airlines Center, Rondo — like the three who returned before him — said the Garden always will hold a special place in his heart.
“That’s where I started. That’s where I got molded,” Rondo said. “That’s where everything happened for me. The best years are still ahead of me, but I was an All-Star four times, won a championship in Boston. I can’t thank the fans enough.
“Even when we were losing 18 in a row the first year, the fans still showed a lot of support. They came to every game. When I was out on the streets, they didn’t kill me or heckle me. It was always supportive. They’re true fans. They’re not fair-weather fans, when you’re losing, they’re gone. They ride it out and be a Celtic for life.”
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
