Ricky Rubio returns to the Timberwolves

Ricky Rubio (Joe Bielawa, Wikimedia Commons)

Point guard Ricky Rubio of El Masnou, Spain is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves according to Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors. On Friday, Rubio was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Timberwolves with Jaden McDaniels for James Johnson, Aleksej Pokusevski, and the Timberwolves’ second-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Rubio averaged 13 points per game last season, not with the Thunder, but with the Phoenix Suns. He was then traded from the Suns to the Thunder in the Chris Paul blockbuster deal on November 16.

Initially drafted by the Timberwolves in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2009 NBA Draft, Rubio played two seasons in Spain before joining Minnesota for the 2011-12 season. He would play the next six seasons for the Timberwolves and averaged 10.3 points per game in 353 games.

Prior to playing for the Suns in 2019-20, Rubio played two seasons with the Utah Jazz. This past year in Phoenix, Rubio also averaged 8.8 assists per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, a .415 field goal percentage, a .361 three-point percentage, and a .863 free-throw percentage.

Rubio is now expected to be one of two starting Spaniards on the Timberwolves next season. The other is power forward Juan Hernangomez of Madrid. In 2019-20, Hernangomez averaged six points per game with Minnesota and the Denver Nuggets. However, Hernangomez was much better with Minnesota than Denver, as he averaged 12.9 points per game with the Timberwolves, and 3.1 points per game with the Nuggets.

Minnesota had the second worst record in the Western Conference in the NBA in 2019-20. At 19 wins and 45 losses, Minnesota was only ahead of the 15-50 Golden State Warriors.

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