Wolves guard Ricky Rubio cleared to return to take part in practice
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Star point guard Ricky Rubio took an important step toward returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves lineup on Wednesday.
The team announced that Rubio has been cleared to participate in full-contact practices with no limitations after he visited this week with Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo.
Rubio had surgery on March 21, 2012 to repair the torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee after being injured with 16 seconds left in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 9. Steadman performed the surgery at his clinic in Vail.
Rubio and the Wolves medical staff now will assess his ability to participate in an NBA game after monitoring his progress during the upcoming practices.
The fifth-overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Rubio appeared in 41 games (31 starts) for the Wolves during his rookie season and averaged 10.6 points with 4.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.22 steals. Rubio was third in the NBA in steals and fifth in assists when he was injured.
