Ricky Rubio

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rubio and the second or maternal family name is Vives.
Ricky Rubio
Rubio with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021
Free agent
PositionPoint guard
Personal information
Born (1990-10-21) 21 October 1990 (age 34)
El Masnou, Spain
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2009: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career2005–present
Career history
2005–2009Joventut Badalona
2009–2011FC Barcelona
2011–2017Minnesota Timberwolves
2017–2019Utah Jazz
2019–2020Phoenix Suns
2020–2021Minnesota Timberwolves
2021–2024Cleveland Cavaliers
2024FC Barcelona
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Spain
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2019 China
EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 2009 Poland
Gold medal – first place 2011 Lithuania
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Slovenia
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Turkey

Ricard Rubio Vives (born 21 October 1990) is a Spanish professional basketball player who last played for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League on 15 October 2005, at age 14.[1][2] He made his EuroLeague debut on 24 October 2006, a few days after turning 16,[3] making him one of the youngest players to play in the EuroLeague.

On 25 June 2009, Rubio was drafted with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves,[4] making him the first player born in the 1990s to be drafted by an NBA team. The Timberwolves had an agreement in principle with his Spanish team, DKV Joventut, to buy out his contract, but Rubio backed out of the deal.[5] On 31 August 2009, Joventut traded the rights to Rubio to FC Barcelona,[6] and Rubio signed a six-year contract with FC Barcelona the following day.[7] In 2011, Rubio joined the Timberwolves,[8] and spent six seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the Utah Jazz in June 2017. He signed with the Phoenix Suns in July 2019, before returning to Minnesota in 2020. Rubio was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2021, but was dealt to the Indiana Pacers a month after suffering a season ending ACL injury in December.

In August 2023, Rubio announced he was taking a break from the sport to prioritise his mental health. On 4 January 2024, Rubio announced that he would be retiring from the NBA.

  1. ^ "Ricky Rubio establece un nuevo récord al debutar en la ACB con catorce años". Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 15 October 2005. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2006.
  2. ^ Burns, Marty (8 August 2008). "NBA types will have their eyes on Spanish phenom Rubio at Olympics". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Report - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL". Euroleague.net. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  4. ^ NBA.com, Wolves Select Ricky Rubio at No. 5, accessed 20 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Kahn: Rubio not ready to jump to NBA". ESPN.com. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  6. ^ Bucher, Ric & Sheridan, Chris (31 August 2009). "Sources: Wolves can't work buyout". ESPN. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  7. ^ "REGAL FCB scores teen sensation Rubio". Euroleague. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  8. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (1 June 2011). "Sources: Rubio, T'wolves reach deal". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 1 June 2011.