BOSTON(AP) -- Rajon Rondo says he has agreed to a five-year
contract extension with the Celtics, keeping the star point
guard from entering the market as a restricted free agent after
the season.

The deal has yet to be signed but Rondo said Monday that was
just a "formality."

"That's the biggest thing for me, take care of my family," Rondo
said. "I'm very excited."

Talks between Rondo's agent Bill Duffy and the Celtics became
more focused last week, just before the team's opener.

"I think the time we started to negotiate it was time for
tip-off of the regular season in Cleveland," Rondo said.

"Maybe a day before, they offered during the Cleveland game but
I had to focus. It was the start of the season. I had had four
games already and didn't have much time to stress about it
because I had to focus on winning games."

Rondo is averaging 11.8 assists per game in the first week of
the season and has averaged 9.6 points per game and 5.8 assists
over his three-plus seasons in the league.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, a former star NBA point guard, likes
the stability that the agreement brings.

"I love it," Rivers said. "Whenever we can lock up a player like
him, that's what you want to do," said Rivers. "I said last week
that I really thought he'd be a Celtic for life. Now, with the
contract, at least for the most part of it, he will be. That's a
good thing."