When Ricky Rubio was acquired by the Timberwolves during the 2020 offseason, it was billed as a homecoming for a veteran point guard who began his NBA career in Minnesota. However, speaking to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Rubio admitted that the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2020/21 season prevented him from really reconnecting with Wolves fans.
“It didn’t feel like I came back to Minnesota,” Rubio said. “That’s one of the things that hurts the most, being at Target Center and not being able to see real fans and feel the love they have had for me. It’s something that I missed.”
While Rubio should get the opportunity to be around fans in Minnesota next season, he’s entering a contract year and could be a candidate to be traded again this offseason if the Wolves want to shake up their roster. For his part, the Spaniard told Krawczynski that he’d love to remain with the team — as long as it keeps taking positive steps toward contention.
“I don’t want to be on a team where there is no direction, there is no hope we can really take the next step,” he said. “I believe we can take the next step and really be a solid playoff team. That’s why when I got traded to Minnesota I was excited. I thought this was the year. We wasted a year, but there is no more years to waste. If not, the rebuilding process is gonna start over again and I don’t think that’s a fun part to be a part of.”
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Thunder draft-and-stash prospect Vasilije Micic has been voted the EuroLeague’s 2020/21 Most Valuable Player, the league announced on Wednesday. Micic, who averaged 16.3 PPG and 4.8 APG in 38 EuroLeague games for Anadolu Efes is a candidate to come stateside for the 2021/22 season.
- As Sarah Todd of The Deseret News details, Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was always reluctant to accept a bench role earlier in his NBA career, viewing it as a slight when he was removed from the starting lineup during his days with the Lakers. However, Clarkson has embraced his reserve role over the years and it paid off in a big way in 2020/21 with a Sixth Man of the Year award.
- The Nuggets are increasing the capacity at Ball Arena to 10,500 fans, the team announced in a press release. Denver had previously been allowing an attendance of up to 7,750.
Not always a good idea when a star returns and expects things to return to what it was. The Cavs reaquired Mo Williams from Bron-era-I for Bron-era-II and it went poorly, as he expected more of that “connection”.
Worked fine with Bron!
The connection of no fans in the arena vs fans in the arena? Lately it seems like none of your posts make any sense. Is everything ok?
Rubio was speaking of not getting a connection with fans the second time around in Minnesota. He blames covid for this, but the situation may not improve next year.
I think he meant he misses the mild adulation like he had. It went from:
*Rubio’s our man, he will figure it out*, to:
*oh yes he’s one of them too*.
Raised in Spain where they would never forget.
Mmm fair enough. Understood.
Well LBJ is a megastar…
Rubio is a very good player…
Williams was just a bum, right?
Maybe quality has somethin’ to do with second parts
We are going to keep hearing about what a genius Sam Presti is for years to come as his team continues to acquire players “loaded with potential” and they remain in the lottery year after year. Eventually they will realize he’s just another Sam Hinkie.
Presti’s hand was forced. Hinkie chose
Cannot wait to hear how Micic gets pronounced. /s
It’s probably sounds similar to actress/comedian Kate Micucci.
Native Serbian speaker here. Vasilije Micić is pronounced as:
Va(h)-sealy-ye Me-tsich
Like Met-sich? No problem! Not exactly like that? Good enough!
A team of Serbs could make an NBA title contender almost.
Meet-sich.
And, yes, a team of Serbs would do well, especially if we add half-Serbs – Luka Dončić, Goran Dragić and Dario Šarić, as well as Nikola Vučević, a Montenegrin Serb.
Meanwhile the rockets are even worse off, especially if they end up with the #5 pick….which then falls into the 20s and OKC has 2 top 5 picks in a loaded draft….but yeah…we’ll be perpetual lottery drafters.