Utah Jazz: Ricky Rubio is fortunate to no longer be in Minnesota

Though being traded was undoubtedly hard at the time, in hindsight Ricky Rubio is exceedingly fortunate to be out of Minnesota and playing for the Utah Jazz.

Being traded is never an easy experience for an NBA player. It’s easy to forget that despite these guys’ skills and athletic prowess, they’re still human beneath it all. Being given up on or dumped away by a team to which they’ve given so much can undoubtedly be a major blow to the ego.

I wouldn’t be surprised if those feelings perfectly describe the reaction Utah Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio had when he was dealt to the Jazz for a protected first-round pick. Despite his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves not quite going as hoped, especially considering how highly praised he was before entering the league, he had given his all to that squad and won the admiration of a fanbase.

Then, just like that, they were turning him away.

Rubio’s lack of confidence and inability to mesh with his new squad was clear during his first stints with the Utah Jazz. The former assist extraordinaire couldn’t seem to find his mark. His shooting and overall impact on the team were detrimental. During several points of his early time with the Jazz, fans were calling for a change at the point guard position.

Then, things suddenly clicked for Rubio, and it was as if he were an entirely different player.

In a January 24th bout against the Detroit Pistons, Rubio received a blow to the head that left him cut and bleeding. Rather than throw in the towel and exit the game, he demanded that he be allowed to continue to play. The team doctors patched him up as quickly and efficiently as possible, then turned him back loose. The Jazz would go on to win in overtime. In that moment, Rubio showed his toughness and leadership, and his season took off in an incredible way.

From that game until the end of the regular season, Rubio put up mind-blowing averages of 16 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 43.8 percent from deep along with 6.1 assists per contest. It was an absolute reversal from the previous half of the season. Even in a Western Conference known for its prolific point guards, Rubio appeared as if he fit in among the best.

His confidence sky-rocketed and he solidified himself as a worthy and more than competent starting point guard for the Utah Jazz. It was an amazing finish to an exhilarating season.

And the best part about it all? Ricky Rubio gets to pick it all up right where he left off in 2018-19. In Rubio’s six years with the Timberwolves, he played for four different head coaches. The team underwent several player changes during that stretch as well, and they were greatly removed from any semblance of consistency or continuity. It was quite obvious that he and coach Tom Thibodeau weren’t a fit, so it was thereafter that he was dealt.

While it may have seemed hard at the time, I guarantee Ricky looks back now and can only consider it a blessing.

There are so many positives for him with the Jazz right now. After overcoming last season’s rocky start, it’s clear that he’s an ideal fit with his Utah squad. The Jazz are on a significant upward trend, Rubio enjoys excellent chemistry with his teammates, and between maintaining essentially the same team and of course a rock-solid consistent head coach, this will be the most continuity Rubio’s ever had from one year to the next in his career.

Make no mistake, he’s a major part of the team, and he’s shown in a variety of ways that he’s thrilled of such being the case. Ricky Rubio is a Jazzman through and through.

https://twitter.com/rickyrubio9/status/1042519366984622080

Meanwhile, look at the current state of the Minnesota Timberwolves. I feel awful for their fanbase, and I’m certain that the city and the fans will always hold a special place in Ricky’s heart. However, the nature of their roster and front office is one of clear disarray. One that I’m sure Rubio is glad to be away from, especially considering all the turnover and turmoil he had to experience during his six years in Minnesota.

While the Wolves deal with their best player wanting out, their young players feuding with the star and the owner and front office butting heads with one another, meanwhile the Jazz are focused on one thing – picking up where they left off from last year so they can make some noise in the West.

Being traded from a team that Ricky Rubio had dedicated his heart and soul to had to be hard, as did getting off to a discouraging start with the Utah Jazz. But now that all that has passed, and knowing what he does now, I’m certain that he’s pretty thrilled with how things have panned out.

And I know that Jazz Nation is excited as well. Rubio was absolutely thrilling to conclude last season. If he’s able to pick up where he left off and benefit from Utah’s stellar development program to improve even further from there, there’s no telling just how high he can help this Jazz team ascend this upcoming season.