The Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday reached a buyout settlement with guard Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman introduced.
Rubio has been away from the crew because the begin of the 2023-24 season.
“Ricky Rubio embodied every thing a franchise would need from such an achieved participant, who helped instill a confidence and management high quality that also resonates inside our crew,” stated Altman. “If you measure his impression, notably through the 2021-22 season, Ricky was instrumental in our 22-win enchancment that yr. His willingness to mentor our youthful gamers speaks to the gravity of his tenure in Cleveland and the success we’re having with this present Cavaliers group. We want Ricky nothing however one of the best and stay supportive of his determination to proceed specializing in his psychological well being.”
Rubio (6-3, 190) has appeared in 698 video games (603 begins) with Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix, and Cleveland, holding profession averages of 10.8 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.76 steals in 29.6 minutes. He presently has the Tenth-most assists amongst lively NBA gamers (5,160) and has additionally averaged greater than 6.0 assists and at the least 1.30 steals in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons. Initially drafted by the Timberwolves with the fifth general choice within the 2009 NBA Draft, the 12-year NBA veteran was a 2012 NBA All-Rookie First Workforce choice. He has additionally made three playoff appearances with Utah in 2018 and 2019 in addition to Cleveland in 2023, showing in 14 profession postseason video games (11 begins) and averaging 11.5 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.50 steals in 26.1 minutes. A longtime member of the Spanish Nationwide Workforce, Rubio has performed in three Olympics (2020, 2016, 2008), profitable silver 2008 and bronze in 2016. On the 2020 Olympic Video games in Tokyo, he scored 38 factors towards america, breaking the report for many factors scored towards USA throughout Olympic competitors. He additionally led Spain to a gold medal within the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
In two seasons with the Cavaliers (2021-22, 2022-23), Rubio appeared in 67 video games (10 begins) with averages of 9.2 factors, 5.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 22.9 minutes. In the course of the 2021-22, his greatest in Cleveland, Rubio appeared in 34 video games (eight begins) with a career-high tying common of 13.1 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.44 steals in 28.5 minutes, earlier than lacking the ultimate 48 video games with a season-ending ACL tear. Previous to the damage, Rubio grew to become considered one of 12 lively NBA gamers to report 5,000 profession assists. He additionally recorded a career-high 37 factors, taking pictures 8-9 (.889) from the three-point line, 10 assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench on Nov. 7 at New York, turning into the primary participant in NBA historical past with at the least 30 factors, 10 assists and eight three-pointers in a recreation in a reserve position. He additionally grew to become the primary participant in Cavs crew historical past to make his first eight three-point makes an attempt in a recreation.
Rubio was traded to Indiana on February 7, 2022, after his damage in a deal that introduced Caris LeVert to Cleveland however didn’t seem in a recreation for the Pacers. He resigned with the Cavaliers as a free agent on July 7, 2022, and appeared in 33 video games through the 2022-23 season, making his season debut on Jan. 12 at Portland, the place he chipped in 9 factors and three rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench. It was his first recreation again since struggling the ACL damage on Dec. 28, 2021, at New Orleans.
Cleveland’s roster now stands at 16 gamers, together with three Two-Method gamers.
