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Ricky Rubio being traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves did not come as a surprise to many, as he was consistently part of a lot of chatter leading to his eventual move. However, what came as a shock was being dealt to the Utah Jazz, as his new team did not emerge as a potential landing spot for him in previous months.
Now in Salt Lake City, the Spanish point guard recently spoke about how he felt about getting traded. He also added, via Ryan McDonald of the Deseret News, that he is looking forward to playing for the Jazz, especially given their rich tradition, and the culture they have in place.
“To get traded, it’s not fun, but I was really excited to go to an organization that really believed in me. It’s a great basketball organization with a good tradition. It was a little weird. I was six years in Minnesota. My name was in the papers with rumors and all that stuff for the last couple years, but never traded. This summer, I guess it was time. I have no regrets. I had a great time in Minnesota, but I think it was time for the both of us to move on. I think it was that time of our relationship that it didn’t work out the way we wanted, and we move on.”
Rubio also pointed out that he appreciates the trust already being given to him by the franchise, and that he is positive that he can bring a lot to the Jazz’s table, and help them continue their good run, stemming from last season’s record.
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“Having the GM talk that good about me, it’s great. The confidence that they showed in me from the beginning, it’s awesome, and now I have to answer that confidence with good games. I have confidence in me, and I’ve worked hard this summer. I think I can bring a lot to that team.”
The 26-year-old is fresh coming off another solid campaign for the Timberwolves. He appeared in 75 games and had career-high averages of 11.1 points and 9.1 assists, to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Despite all the trade rumors that surrounded him, he remained professional and just continued to play his natural game.
Now with the Jazz, he can run the plays for a young team, looking to build on the momentum they had from last season, where they made it all the way to the second round of the playoffs. He is also expected to be their undisputed starter and should be in line for heavy minutes.
If he can play close to the level he was at during his days in Minneapolis, or even surpass it, Rubio could turn out to be one of the most significant acquisitions in Jazz history, and has the chance to further establish himself as one of the better point guards in the league today.
