Ricky Rubio (ankle) has been cleared to do some light walking and hopes to return by the end of the year, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "Maybe January or Christmas. My family is coming for Christmas, so I hope they can see me playing. But I don't

Rubio (ankle) has been cleared to do some light walking and hopes to return by the end of the year, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "Maybe January or Christmas. My family is coming for Christmas, so I hope they can see me playing. But I don't know the time," he said.

Analysis:

Rubio is still using crutches and a walking boot, so he's a ways away from participating in practice. He suffered a severe ankle sprain on Nov. 7 with an original timetable for a return in early January.