Ricard Rubio Vives or simply Ricky Rubio (born 21 October 1990) is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League on 15 October 2005, at age 14.
He made his EuroLeague debut on 24 October 2006, at age 16.
Ricky Rubio is one of the most gifted and astute playmakers in the NBA.
By being proficient at a variety of pass types, he spoon-feeds his teammates on a regular basis.
On the other end of the court, the 6’3″ Spaniard possesses good size at point guard and provides excellent perimeter defense.
Personal Life
In May 2016, Rubio’s mother Tona Vives died at the age of 56.
He has a sister named Laia.
Career
Rubio debuted in the Spanish ACB League in the 2005–06 season with DKV Joventut.
Rubio was the youngest player ever to debut in the ACB, at 14 years and 11 months.
He won the Spanish ACB League’s Rising Star Award that season.
Despite his notability, he was carefully shielded.
DKV Joventut and Rubio’s parents agreed not to make him available for interviews until his 18th birthday on 21 October 2008.
The restrictions were ended a few months early once he was selected for the Spain national team that would play at the 2008 Olympics where he was part of the silver medal winning group in China.
Rubio declared himself eligible for the 2009 NBA draft on 20 April 2009.
After the 2009 NBA draft, Rubio represented FC Barcelona for the next two seasons as agreed upon with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
During that time, he helped the team claim the EuroLeague Championship in 2010 and the Liga ACB Championship in 2011.
He then returned to Minnesota for the 2011-12 season after reaching that height in Catalonia with Barca.
He was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month after the first month of the season.
But the unthinkable happened when Rubio tore his ACL and his lateral collateral ligament defending Kobe Bryant of Blessed Memory.
He missed the rest of the season.
After 6 breathtaking seasons with the Timberwolves Rubio was traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 2018 first-round draft pick.
After 2 seasons with the Jazz he bowed out with a left hamstring injury that rendered him out for the remainder of the playoffs.
By 8 July 2019, Rubio signed with the Phoenix Suns on a three-year, $51 million contract and played there for the 2019-20 season before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and then to the Cleveland Cavaliers where he dropped a career high of 37 points and put up a career-high eight three-pointers made, alongside 10 assists, in a 126–109 win over the New York Knicks.
Injuries
On 28 December, he tore his left ACL during a game between the New Orleans Pelicans, and the next day, it was confirmed to be a season-ending injury.
Trade
Ricky Rubio was traded to the Indiana Pacers on February 6, 2022, along with a lottery-protected 2022 first-round selection, a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick, in exchange for Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick, following speculation that he would sign with the team in 2019.
The deal allowed the Pacers to clear cap space in order to rebuild around rookie guards Chris Duarte and Tyrese Haliburton. Rubio was likely never going to play for the team after learning he’d be sidelined for the remainder of the season and his contract was about to expire.
Nonetheless, Rubio was the first Pacer to wear the number 99, as T.J. McConnell had taken his first pick of number 9.
What is his Age?
Ricky is 31 years old now
Wife of Ricky Rubio?
Ricky Rubio is married to Sara, on 14 January 2020, Rubio’s wife Sara gave birth to their son, Liam.
Contract
He is in the final year of a 3-year contract he had signed with the Suns. He counts $17.8 million against the salary cap.
