Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio has been cleared to participate in ‘full-contact’ practices after a thumbs-up from team doctors.
Rubio tore his ACL after a collision with Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant during their match on March 9. The Spanish international, who missed Spain’s silver-medal performance at the London Olympics hasn’t played a game since.
The rookie was one of the candidates for a surprise Rookie of the Year award after coming to the NBA following a woeful personal performance at Eurobasket 2011 in Lithuania. He answered the critics though with sublime showings and had the Timberwolves in a Playoff spot until his injury.
Upon hearing the news, Rubio Tweeted a simple message to his followers: “Life is good.”
The Timberwolves have stated that Rubio will be “eased in” as he makes his return.
“The likelihood is he’ll play his first game around 16-18 minutes and then from there the medical staff and Ricky will determine on a game-by-game basis what to do next,” Timberwolves President David Kahn said on the team’s website.
