Can’t say that Ricky Rubio has been treated well lately by his NBA franchises. He left through the back door of the Utah Jazz after two seasons at a very good level. Your substitute, Mike Conley, came charging more than double, being older, and not providing better statistics.
His landing at the Phoenix Suns was perfect. He arrived as the oldest of a team with stars like Devin Booker, Kelly Oubre Jr. or Deandre Ayton (this more than a star is bluff) who wanted to go from a table bottom team to a playoff team. And, after an irregular campaign, in the bubble they managed to show a high level and were about to achieve it.
Everything looked nickel plated for Ricky’s second season with the Suns leading the team. But no. The Arizonans saw the opportunity to hire Chris Paul and they did not doubt it. And we are not going to doubt that Chris Paul is one of the best guards in history and that he is better than Ricky. But if we look at the statistics, the same thing happens as with Mike Conley: he is much older, he charges more than double and his numbers are almost identical: Paul averages 13.4 points and 8.3 assists this season with the Suns and Ricky averaged 13 points last season and 8.8 assists.
Combined, they were the best numbers of his career. In full maturity. Just a year ago he was MVP of a World Cup. His prize: transferred to OKC and later to Minnesota Timberwolves. Second adventure in a franchise that made him live his first NBA campaigns but that lives in continuous reconstruction and that does not excite anyone. And last but not least, his coach Ryan Sounders passes him by.
The team plays as if D’Angelo Russell were LeBron James: he divides the game and most of the shots are played. Those that are left over are for Malik Beasley and, of course, if Karl-Anthony Towns is playing because he is not injured there are no shots for anyone else.
Thus, Ricky, who started as a starter but is now a substitute, has less the ball than he did with Donovan Mitchell or Devin Booker. Seeing is believing … He barely averages a short score of minutes per game, 7.8 points and 4.5 assists. Share minutes with Jarrett Culver …
The worst moment of his career, without a doubt. From here it can only get better or, hopefully, be traded again. His time in Minnesota was over. He shouldn’t have come back. There are many NBA franchises that you could contribute to.
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