Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones knew that not everyone liked their decision to sign Ricky Rubio, but he is confident that the veteran point guard will make the team better next season.

The Suns signed Rubio to a three-year deal worth $51 million this summer. Jones said that he feels the 28-year-old forward will make his teammates better because of his leadership. The young general manager expects their young players to thrive under the guidance of the eight-year veteran.

“We’re just really thrilled to have Ricky with us, knowing that his experience, his winning pedigree, his ability to control a team, to run a team, to lead a team is something that we’ve missed, something that we haven’t had recently in Phoenix,” Jones said via Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. “And with his addition, I expect our young guys to be able to take a huge leap forward this year.”

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Suns head coach Monty Williams also heaped praises for his new starting point guard. According to Greg Moore of the Arizona Republic, Williams believes that Rubio will make Suns young stars Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton's lives easier with his ability to lead, distribute, and make players around him look good.

Rubio spent the past two seasons with the Utah Jazz. In 68 games last season, the Spanish point guard posted 12.7 points on top of 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Before moving to Utah, he played six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who drafted him fifth overall in 2009.