Ricky Rubio is making significant progress as he is eyeing to finally make a return on the Cleveland Cavaliers hardwood.
According to Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Rubio has received the clearance to participate in 5-on-5 drills, as he is going in the “right direction” regarding his rehabilitation.
“He’s back,” Bickerstaff said of Rubio following Thursday’s practice, per cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor. “He’s going to start doing more and more. More 5 on 5 and those types of things. He’s been given the green light to do that.
“Now it’s the progression that he has to go through to get ready to play in an NBA game. It’s something we won’t rush. But he’s heading in the right direction.”
Though there is no timetable being provided yet, this marks the biggest update for the Cavs fans about Rubio’s journey towards full recovery.
Rubio suffered an ACL injury in December last year against the New Orleans Pelicans which fatally blew the Cavs’ chances to seize their sudden rise in the 2021-22 season. He served as a vital cog in the franchise’s sizzling start that turned heads around the association.
Given his inability to play, he became a trade chip by Cleveland to acquire Caris LeVert in a February trade. This last offseason, he made a comeback with the Cavs on a reported three-year, $18.4 million deal.
As the Cavaliers are enjoying a blazing top-three start, Rubio’s impending return soon can only fortify their case as a new Eastern Conference power that should lay fears league-wide.
