Seeing Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol play in the NBA Finals has only fueled the desire of Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio to join a team with championship aspirations.
Rubio, who will enter free agency this summer, has previously hinted that his time with the Jazz is over. He emphasized that he does not only want to play for a contender, but also have a leading role in helping the team reach the Finals.
The 28-year-old pass-first point guard doubled down on his previous comments, saying that he envies Gasol for making it to the biggest stage after being traded from the Memphis Grizzlies during the trade deadline.
“I want to play a leading role and to be in a team with playoffs aspirations. Marc Gasol made me envious,” Rubio told Spanish journalist Ernest Macia.
An eight-year veteran, Rubio has never made it to the conference finals in both of his stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jazz. He failed to even make a single playoffs appearance with the Wolves, while both of his postseason trips with the Jazz ended at the hands of the Houston Rockets.
Rubio had best years of his career in Utah, averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game in his two seasons with the Jazz.
The Spanish playmaker is expected to draw significant interest in free agency, especially from teams in dire need of a point guard. However, whether those teams would become championship contenders remains to be seen.
Follow Us
Subscribe