Timberwolves' Rubio exercises injured knee; not practicing with team

Ricky Rubio
After reconstructive knee surgery, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio is exercising on the treadmill but said he still can't practice with the team.
MPR photo/Elizabeth Dunbar

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio is exercising his injured knee on the treadmill but said he still can't practice with the team.

Rubio had reconstructive surgery in March to repair the knee he injured during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though he's working hard to recover, Rubio said it could be December or even January before he is back playing.

"You always have doubts and think about how you're going to come back. But you just have to trust. I'm doing my best already to be as strong as I can and I can't do more, you know," Rubio said. "I just want to be back soon as possible but as healthy as possible too."

He has been shooting free throws but still can't jump or move laterally. It has been hard to watch basketball knowing he still can't play, he said.

"I'm trying to do as much things I can do. They have to stop me sometimes because I want to do more. Sometimes it's just like bad for my knee to do more things," Rubio said.

The Timberwolves begin the NBA regular season in November. The team acquired several new players in the off-season, including veteran Brandon Roy.

• Follow Elizabeth Dunbar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/edunbarmpr

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