Before being broke by a serious left knee injury in December 2021, Ricky Rubio played perhaps the best basketball of his career with Cleveland (13.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals average).
A little less than a year and a half after his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, the Spaniard nevertheless does not manage to become himself again, still with the Riders. Lining for Darius Garland, he is simply going through the worst season of his career statistically (5.2 points, 3.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 17 minutes of play, 35% in shooting, including 27% at 3-points).
Anything but reassuring, with the approach of this playoff campaign during which the experience of Ricky Rubio should allow Cleveland and some of his young teammates to better understand the series against the Knicks. Both on and off the court.
” I’m in a good place, but I’m still trying to get back to who I was », does he judge Thus. ” My role is different compared to last year and I’m trying to figure out how to be effective. I believe I still have a few gears to change and I hope to be able to do so in the playoffs, to help the team as much as possible. »
An unprecedented role and a delicate context
Much less responsible than before his injury with the ball in hand, given the arrivals of Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert, Ricky Rubio must adapt to this rather unusual use for him, away from the ball.
In addition to suffering the physical repercussions of his long recovery and the efforts undertaken to heal himself, all coupled with the intensity of the NBA calendar and adversity.
And, almost three months after his recovery, the Spaniard has not yet really been able to chain and fully acclimatize to his new group, between his resting during the “back-to-back”, the rare sessions of collective training or the All-Star Break.
” I’m trying to find my rhythm, it’s difficult to come back in the middle of the season “Admits the 32-year-old leader in this regard. ” Mentally, you think you’re ready, but physically you have to be too. You are afraid of contact at first, you have to look for it and get used to it again. I have been in the league for twelve years and this is one of my biggest challenges. You don’t want to cut the rhythm of the team when they win, but you also need to follow through. So it’s about finding the right balance. »
Be ready for serious things
In the Cavaliers camp, the difficulties of Ricky Rubio do not seem to worry in any case, because we know his qualities and we know that, if things (finally) start to click, the team will not will come out only reinforced and, this, at the best moment.
” He can have a huge influence because he can make everyone around him better. “, Says his coach, JB Bickerstaff. ” There are times when Donovan and Darius are tough. They can make a difference or create, but when you can put the ball in the hands of a player like Ricky, they can get into the corner and finish with an open shot. He’s capable of doing that kind of stuff. Fear and pressure do not exist with him, he has been doing this since he was 13-14 years old, nothing will be too big for him. He will always be comfortable making the right decision. Put the ball in his hands and good things will follow. »
Good news: Ricky Rubio says he is currently on the right track, even if his recent performances do not plead in his favor.
“ Lately, I feel more like myself. I’m ready. I’m ready for the playoffs. »
| Ricky Rubio | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | MIN | 41 | 34 | 35.7 | 34.0 | 80.3 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 8.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| 2012-13 | MIN | 57 | 30 | 36.0 | 29.3 | 79.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 10.7 |
| 2013-14 | MIN | 82 | 32 | 38.1 | 33.1 | 80.2 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 8.6 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 9.5 |
| 2014-15 | MIN | 22 | 32 | 35.6 | 25.5 | 80.3 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 8.8 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 76 | 31 | 37.4 | 32.6 | 84.7 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 10.1 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 75 | 33 | 40.2 | 30.6 | 89.1 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 9.1 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 11.2 |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 77 | 29 | 41.8 | 35.2 | 86.6 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 13.1 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 68 | 28 | 40.4 | 31.1 | 85.5 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 6.1 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 12.7 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 65 | 31 | 41.5 | 36.1 | 86.3 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 8.8 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 13.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 68 | 26 | 38.8 | 30.8 | 86.7 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 8.6 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 34 | 29 | 36.3 | 33.9 | 85.4 | 0.4 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 13.1 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 31 | 17 | 35.6 | 26.3 | 78.8 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 5.2 |
| Total | 696 | 30 | 38.8 | 32.4 | 84.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 10.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
