When Rubio was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth overall pick in 2009, he already had made a mark on the game of basketball. A young phenom from Spain, he helped Barcelona win a EuroLeague championship in 2010. He was already an Olympian, too, pushing Spain to win a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics.
While in the NBA, he played for Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix and Cleveland, and was part of Utah’s playoff runs in 2018 and 2019. He finishes his NBA career averaging 10.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Cleveland, his final home in the league, said he brought so much to the game that wasn’t on the court.
“Ricky Rubio embodied everything a franchise would want from such an accomplished player, who helped instill a confidence and leadership quality that still resonates within our team,” said Koby Altman, the team’s president of basketball operations.
“When you measure his impact, particularly during the 2021-22 season, Ricky was instrumental in our 22-win improvement that year. His willingness to mentor our younger players speaks to the gravity of his tenure in Cleveland and the success we are having with this current Cavaliers group.”
Rubio’s basketball career also saw much success for Spain. In addition to the silver won in Beijing, he helped Spain to a bronze in Rio de Janeiro, gold at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and two EuroBasket championships. Pau Gasol, an NBA star and Rubio’s teammate on several Spanish teams, paid tribute to his friend on X, saying in Spanish, “Your bravery and strength will help many people. We are with you, Ricky.”
