Ricky Rubio Retires from the NBA

[Domejandro]

I generally don't make threads for random topics, but I feel like Ricky Rubio deserves one. Might merge with Around the NBA, but I will probably keep it separate.

Read on Twitter

Ricky Rubio is one of the understated NBA "What If's", the endless wave of injuries really nuked his ability to develop, as a player. Watching Ricky individually anchor a competent defense as a Point-Guard in his rookie season was incredible, it was sad when the ankle injury took away that burst.

Hopefully Ricky can find some peace and move forward with his life after basketball.

[shangrila]

Sad to hear, he was a hell of a player and from what I've heard an even better human being.

Mental health issues are no joke so hopefully he can continue moving in a good direction and maybe get back to playing the sport he loves at some level in the future.

[Note30]

Ricky is one one of my favorite players of all time. I was sad to hear about his mental health at the beginning of this season. I know my favorite Wolf should be KG, but it's not it's Ricky. After KG left he was the only bright spot in an otherwise meaningless void of Wolves basketball.

I was super angry when he was let go for **** Jeff Teague and when the Wolves org did him dirty again by trading him for Prince. It sucks the way this org treated him and I'm happy he had a better career with the Jazz and Phoenix.

It hurts to see, but I'm glad he's prioritizing his health over a career.

I wish him all the best he will always hold a spot as one of my favorite players.

Change this face, be happy, enjoy it!

[moretins]

The Rookie season of Ricky and his connection with Love from the beginning is unforgettable. I started following him in Spain when people began talking about him; he was just 14 years old and won the U16 European Championship. The feeling is that after that injury, he was never the same. Hopefully, we can still enjoy him, at least in Spain.

[shrink]

If he ever decides to have a position in the NBA, I hope he will consider a special assistant role here. Ant loves him for his mentorship, and the fans love him for all his years with us.

At a minimum, I hope we have a Ricky Rubio night, so he can be honored for all he did for our foresaken franchise.

[winforlose]

If he ever decides to have a position in the NBA, I hope he will consider a special assistant role here. Ant loves him for his mentorship, and the fans love him for all his years with us.

At a minimum, I hope we have a Ricky Rubio night, so he can be honored for all he did for our foresaken franchise.

I wonder where he will choose to live. I would expect if his interest in basketball continued it would be in euro league. Maybe as a coach or FO guy, but that is with no specific knowledge at all.

[BlacJacMac]

If he ever decides to have a position in the NBA, I hope he will consider a special assistant role here. Ant loves him for his mentorship, and the fans love him for all his years with us.

At a minimum, I hope we have a Ricky Rubio night, so he can be honored for all he did for our foresaken franchise.

I wonder where he will choose to live. I would expect if his interest in basketball continued it would be in euro league. Maybe as a coach or FO guy, but that is with no specific knowledge at all.

It sounds like Spain with his wife and son.

Woj says if he ever decides to play again, it'll be for Spain.

[Klomp]

He is the closest thing not named Kevin Garnett that we have had to someone who deserves a jersey retirement for what they brought the franchise on the court.

Makes me think back to the however many (nine?) dedicated Rubio threads we had here on the Wolves board over the years.

[Domejandro]

I know some might be resistant to it because injuries nuked his ability to become a star, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ricky gets his number retired in Minnesota, eventually. When looking at Minnesota Timberwolves history post-Garnett, Ricky Rubio has been the collective tissue throughout a variety of eras. From the Kevin Love era, to the trade for Andrew Wiggins, the return of Kevin Garnett, the drafting of Karl-Anthony Towns, the beginning of the Thibodeau era, and finally shepherding Anthony Edwards’ rookie season, Ricky has been an exceptionally important figure in Minnesota Timberwolves history.

Not confident that it will happen, but I don’t think it’s impossible. Definitely not until after Kevin Garnett’s jersey retirement (and Flip), though.

[shangrila]

I know some might be resistant to it because injuries nuked his ability to become a star, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ricky gets his number retired in Minnesota, eventually. When looking at Minnesota Timberwolves history post-Garnett, Ricky Rubio has been the collective tissue throughout a variety of eras. From the Kevin Love era, to the trade for Andrew Wiggins, the return of Kevin Garnett, the drafting of Karl-Anthony Towns, the beginning of the Thibodeau era, and finally shepherding Anthony Edwards’ rookie season, Ricky has been an exceptionally important figure in Minnesota Timberwolves history.

Not confident that it will happen, but I don’t think it’s impossible. Definitely not until after Kevin Garnett’s jersey retirement (and Flip), though.

Nah.

I like Rubio but he didn't do enough to have his number retired. And honestly, that stuff gets thrown around too often in general. Number retirements should be for the greats and specifically for what they do for that franchise.

[Worm Guts]

I love Ricky, but the eras he played with the Wolves weren't significant enough to retire his jersey. He never played a playoff game as a Wolf.

[minimus]

Ricky was the reason why I am now rooting for MIN. Before Jokic, before Doncic if there was Rubio in MIN... I feel sad and old now...