New Orleans Pelicans point guard Rajon Rondo had surgery for a sports hernia on Tuesday morning and is expected to be out four to six weeks, the team announced.
Rondo visited a specialist Monday in Philadelphia to determine whether he needed surgery for the hernia.
Rondo, 31, was injured in the first half of Friday's preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and did not play Sunday against his former team, the Chicago Bulls.
New Orleans opens its regular season Oct. 18 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Head coach Alvin Gentry acknowledged that the Pelicans will miss Rondo's leadership if he is sidelined for an extended period.
"He's just a great leader to have on your team," Gentry said Sunday, according to the New Orleans Advocate. "If you want to have a mentor in this league, I would suggest him."
The Pelicans signed Rondo to a one-year, $3.3 million deal during the offseason.