For Minnesota Timberwolves fans and fans of injured Spanish star point Ricky Rubio, the wait is over.
The Timberwolves confirmed Saturday that Rubio, who tore his ACL and LCL last March, will play his first game of the season on Saturday, appropriately at home, when the T-Wolves (11-9) host on the Dallas Mavericks (11-12) at the .
Rubio, who finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting last year with 10.6 points and 8.2 assists, has been on the sidelines since March when he sustained a season-ending injury on a collision with Kobe Bryant. During his play, he rejuvenated the Timberwolves and made them serious playoff contenders.
His return could not come at a better time for Minnesota, who is only second in the Northwest Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and have dealt with injuries to key players this season, the worst being All-Star forward Kevin Love, who broke his hand in October. While Love has since returned, he is questionable for Saturday's game after nursing a bruised right thumb in a win over New Orleans on Friday.
With the return of the energetic point guard with the signature behind-the-back pass, fans at the Target Center are sure to be electrified for Rubio's long-anticipated return. After a nearly nine-month-long rehabilitation process, Rubio will be ready to go when he matches up against the Mavericks' Derek Fisher when game time starts at 7 p.m.
"I'm excited to get back on the floor with my teammates and play in front of the best fans in the NBA at Target Center," Rubio said in a statement issued by the team, as reported by ESPN. "After a long recovery, this is the first step in me getting back on the court and helping my teammates. Thank you to the fans for their support over the last nine months."
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