Ricky Rubio was a major driving force behind the Cleveland Cavaliers’ breakout season two years ago. His veteran leadership, playmaking ability and occasional scoring outbursts made him a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Unfortunately, a torn ACL cut Rubio’s season short.
Rubio returned in January of 2022 to a Cavaliers’ roster that had already begun replacing him. Rubio’s expertise as a ball handler wasn’t as needed with Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell now in the lineup. This, combined with a sharp decrease in his efficiency, led to Rubio’s overall impact plummeting.
Fast forward to the present day and Rubio has elected to sit out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup to prioritize his mental health.
It is no surprise the basketball world promptly gathered to support Rubio. He’s been putting his teammates in positions for success throughout his career and has become a fan favorite for each team he represents.
Overcoming the mental and physical anguish of an ACL injury at age 32 is a significant challenge. Yet, Rubio still has a role with the Cavaliers should he continue his time with the team.
So let’s talk about Ricky Rubio’s potential path forward and why basketball fans all around the globe are rooting for him to succeed.
Tony’s body of work covering the Cleveland Cavaliers can be found online. Some of his recent stops include doing social media work for Fear The Sword, breaking down the Cavs from every angle on YouTube and talking about the team on his podcast, The Junkyard Pod.
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