Rajon Rondo has waited 13 games into the season to make his return from a sports hernia, but did so for a short stint off the bench on Monday in a narrow 106-105 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

The New Orleans Pelicans floor general scored his only field goal of the game, tallying two points and two assists through five minutes on the floor, as he gets acclimated to getting in game shape.

“I got my feet wet. I knew we didn't have a lot of time to practice, so I'm just using this game as my practice to get better and get a rhythm,” Rondo said, according to William Guillory of The New Orleans Times-Picayune. “It's a great feeling to be back out there and playing basketball again. It's what I love to do, especially with these group of guys. They're very unselfish.”

“I came here for a reason. This is a special group of guys and my expectations are pretty high.”

Rondo is expected to be slated at point guard along with Jrue Holiday as his backcourt mate. While there were rumors of a Nov. 17 return, Rajon Rondo surprised some by coming back a few days early.

“Y'all weren't supposed to find out that soon. I don't know who told y'all,” Rondo joked. “I was trying to (make the announcement) zero minutes before (tip-off).

Even Holiday noted Rondo's impact, despite the short amount of playing time he logged for the Pelicans against the Hawks.

“He just got in and got two points and two assists,” said Holiday. “Just the presence he brings as a leader, it's good that it was on the court instead of on the bench all the time.”