Ricky Rubio, durante el Cleveland Cavaliers-Portland Trail Blazers.
The Spanish point guard returns to the NBA courts in the victory of the Cavaliers against Portland after recovering from the rupture of the cruciate ligament in his left knee that he suffered in December 2021
The NBA, Cleveland and Spanish basketball are smiling again. Ricky Rubio has reappeared this morning in the victory of the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Portland Trail Blazers (113-119) after being away from the tracks for more than a year.
On December 28, 2021, when the Catalan point guard was living one of the best moments of his NBA career when he became the conductor of the Cavaliers and averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists, he suffered the second rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee of his career, after the one suffered in 2012. The injury came at the worst possible moment, the Catalan was missing the entire season and with it the possibility of participating in the Eurobasket.
In his return, Ricky had 9 points (3/5 from field goals, 2/4 from 3-pointers and 1/2 from free throws), 3 rebounds and 1 assist in the 10 minutes played, some more than remarkable numbers that They served to offset Damian Lillard’s 50 points and get the fifth victory in seven games for the Ohio franchise
“I felt good. I felt weird at first, especially the first time (on the court), but after that I felt normal again. It had been frustrating since then (the injury), but I am finally playing basketball, playing the sport that I love,” said the Barcelonan, in statements collected by the ESPN network,
Donovan Mitchell, transferred this summer to Cleveland and with whom he has already formed a great partnership in Utah, was very excited about his return: “I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt like my freshman year (at Utah). For me, it’s a moment of closing a circle. It’s great to see him there after a cruciate injury. And also hitting two great triples for us, leading the attack », he explained.
His coach, JB Bickerstaff, also had words of praise and affection for him: «I think it was impressive. The time, the work that he has put in to come back… And then he helps us (today) to get a partial. Put two great triples that settle us. That’s how he is and his colleagues love it, “he added.
.
