MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Ricky Rubio says his left knee feels great and he can't wait to get back on the practice court with his Minnesota Timberwolves teammates for the first time this season after nearly nine months on the sideline.

Rubio met with reporters on Friday after being cleared by doctors to begin full-contact practices on his surgically repaired knee. He's been out since tearing the ACL and LCL on March 9.

He's still waiting to see how his knee responds to his first contact practice before setting a date to play in his first game.

Rubio says it's been difficult to be patient through the process, but he feels pleased to be slightly ahead of schedule.

He says "as soon as I'm ready, I want to play."