page_title: Ricky Rubio
section_title: Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2017)
hierarchical_section_title: Ricky Rubio / Professional career / Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2017)
caption_attribution_description: Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves
context_page_description: Ricard Rubio Vives is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League on October 15, 2005, at age 14. He made his EuroLeague debut on October 24, 2006, at age 16, becoming the first player born in the 1990s to play in a EuroLeague game. He is the fifth-youngest player to make their debut in the EuroLeague, since the year 2000. On June 25, 2009, he was drafted with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Timberwolves, making him the first player born in the 1990s to be drafted by the NBA. The Timberwolves had an agreement in principle with his former Spanish team, DKV Joventut, to buy out his contract, but Rubio backed out of the deal. On August 31, 2009, Joventut traded the rights to Rubio to FC Barcelona, and Rubio signed a six-year contract with FC Barcelona the following day. In 2011, Rubio joined the Minnesota Timberwolves, and spent six seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the Jazz in June 2017. He signed with the Phoenix Suns in July 2019.
context_section_description: On June 1, 2011, sources reported Rubio had "reached an agreement with Minnesota to join the Timberwolves" for the 2011–12 NBA season. Rubio arrived off a plane in Minnesota to a barrage of fans waiting to welcome him to America. On June 17, 2011, Rubio held a press conference announcing he had signed with Minnesota.
  Becoming the 10th Spanish NBA player, Rubio made his regular season debut on December 26, 2011, to a sellout crowd at the Target Center, the team's first sellout crowd since the 2007–08 season. Rubio recorded 6 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in 26 minutes in a 4-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month after the first month of the season. In February, Rubio and teammate Derrick Williams were selected to participate in the 2012 Rising Stars challenge. Rubio was drafted to Team Shaq, while Williams was drafted to Team Chuck. Rubio scored 22 points on February 19, 2012 in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers. In a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on March 9, 2012, Rubio tore his ACL and his lateral collateral ligament defending Kobe Bryant. He missed the rest of the season. Rubio finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, trailing only Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving. Rubio had averaged 10.6 points, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 41 games.
  Rubio returned from his injury on December 15, 2012, in an overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks, playing for 19 minutes and totaling 9 assists and 8 points. He then recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over the San Antonio Spurs on March 12, 2013. Rubio almost recorded his second career triple-double in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on March 30 with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Then on April 13, he recorded a career-high 24 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals in a win over the Phoenix Suns. Rubio finished the 2012–13 season with averages of 10.7 points, 7.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He also finished second in steals per game, behind Chris Paul.
  On November 11, 2013, Rubio recorded his second career triple-double with 12 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in a 113–90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
  On February 19, 2014, Rubio recorded a career-high 17 assists, along with 6 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, in a 104–91 win over the Indiana Pacers. Rubio also tied the Timberwolves' franchise record with his 17 assists. On March 19, 2014, Rubio recorded his third career triple-double with 22 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a 123–122 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks. On March 28, 2014, Rubio tied Tyrone Corbin for the Wolves season-record in steals at 175 with his one steal in a 143–107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Two days later, he passed that record when he recorded 2 steals against the Brooklyn Nets.
  On October 31, 2014, Rubio signed a four-year, $56 million contract extension with the Timberwolves. On November 8, 2014, he was ruled out indefinitely after he severely sprained his left ankle in the November 7 game loss to the Orlando Magic. Rubio returned to action on February 2, 2015 against the Dallas Mavericks, recording 10 points and 4 assists in a 100–94 loss. On March 2, 2015, he recorded his fourth career triple-double with 18 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He later underwent surgery on his ankle in April 2015.
  On October 28, 2015, Rubio scored a career-high 28 points in a season opening win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He later missed four games with a sore left knee, returning to action on November 17. On December 16, he recorded a near quadruple-double with 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 9 points and 8 steals in a loss to the New York Knicks. On December 30, he tied a career high with 17 assists in a 94–80 win over the Utah Jazz. Having recorded 14 assists two nights prior in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Rubio became the first Wolves player with at least 14 assists in consecutive games since Terrell Brandon did so in April 1999. On March 11, 2016, Rubio's three-pointer
caption: Rubio in 2012
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