Player Profile: Ricky Rubio
It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that makes Ricky Rubio such a valuable player on a team, but if there is one quote that sums it up, this is probably it:
“I just care about winning,” Rubio said after the Wolves’ final home game on April 15. “I just want to win every single game. I know it’s tough…but you want to win every game.”
Rubio brings that intensity every day, every night, every practice and every workout. He embodied determination during his nine-month recovery from tearing his ACL and LCL in his left knee last March, and he fought his way back to that same level of “Tricky Ricky” status that captivated Wolves fans during his rookie year.
There are many nights when it feels like Rubio continues to raise the bar—like regardless of what incredible play he just produced, another is waiting around the corner. This was a building block year, a season that induced incredible patience and persistence due to the severity of the injury from which he was returning. But in the end, he made it all the way back and then some. He fought through the restricted minutes and the stretches when his body hadn’t quite caught up with how his mind reacted in-game.
But he still finished the year averaging 10.7 points, 7.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.40 steals per game, with his steals ranking second in the NBA and his assists ranking 10th.
That might be the most intriguing part of Rubio’s persona on the court. He’s known for his passing creativity, but his defense intangibly helps fuel his teammates while also compiling steals on the stat sheet.
“Defensively, he can be dynamic at times,” Wolves assistant coach T.R. Dunn said. “He can be so disruptive with his play. He has a really good feel for timing, he’s long-armed, he has quickness. He is getting his strength and mobility back to where it was. His anticipation is great. He does a lot of things.”
Every facet of his game has that dynamic feel, and it’s something he’s likely to build on heading into next year.
“Work to be better and especially strong in my legs, my jump shot, my dribble,” Rubio said. “I want to work on everything I can.”
Highlight of the Year
Rubio had plenty of no-look passes and alley-oops to choose from this season, but perhaps the most memorable and nationally-seen highlight came during the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge in Houston. Rubio drove to the basket around Golden State’s Harrison Barnes and, as he crossed underneath the hoop, he seemingly smiled at the crowd while bouncing a perfect between-the-legs pass to a cutting Bradley Beal for the dunk. Rubio had 10 assists on the night, and his performance along with teammate Alexey Shved produced rave reviews for Minnesota’s up-and-coming young guards.
Top Performance of the Year
Rubio was at his absolute best on March 12 against the San Antonio Spurs when he produced his first career NBA triple-double in a 107-83 victory at Target Center. Rubio collected 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the game, showing firsthand he’s not only dynamic with his passing but can also influence a game on the boards. It was the 29th triple-double in Wolves history, and his first triple-double since Aug. 20, 2006, when he recorded 51 points, 24 rebounds and 12 assists against Russia while playing for Spain.
Offseason Objectives
Rubio’s biggest challenge this summer is going to be continuing to strengthen his legs, which will in return help him improve much of his game across the board. Rubio showed in 2012-13 that his instincts and desire never waned during his nine-month recovery period, but his body took some time to fully get comfortable and be able to react with the same quickness his mind does on the court. We started seeing it really come back to form in February. On Feb. 4, Rubio began a stretch of six double-doubles in 11 games to end the month.
“He got more confident in his ability to do things on the floor like he did [in 2011-12],” assistant coach Terry Porter said. “I think that showed as the year went on. He showed he was getting his explosiveness back, his ability to get to the rim back.”