DALLAS -- In the fourth quarter of a game in Dallas on Monday, Ricky Rubio threw a pass that left the Mavericks announcers at a loss for words.
Thank goodness Ricky Rubio is spreading joy again
Minnesota’s point guard is back, and that’s good for anyone who enjoys the game.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
“I saw what he was attempting to do, I just didn’t think he’d be able to get it through,” analyst Derek Harper said. As they showed a replay, he continued: “Look at that pass!”
“I’m telling you, all he can see at that angle is bodies and white jerseys,” sideline reporter Jeff Wade marveled.
“That’s an incredible pass,” Harper repeated.
Rubio starts to throw that bounce pass to Thad through Dirk and Tyson at this moment. How do you see that? pic.twitter.com/Mtr02rWNVh
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) February 3, 2015 This was Rubio’s first game since Nov. 7 after an ankle injury caused him to miss nearly three months of the season, and he wasted no time in reminding us why he was so badly missed. NBA athletes accomplish a lot of unbelievable feats on a basketball court, but few are more magical than a pass that traverses a swarm of limbs and squeezes through the smallest cracks of the defense to find its home.
Incredibly, that wasn't even Rubio's best pass of the night. He later anticipated a Thaddeus Young roll to the rim and spun the ball through traffic for a layup. The first highlight is incredible, but Rubio throwing two passes like this can only be explained by wizardry.
With 4:05 left, head coach Flip Saunders subbed Rubio out of a three-point game. Rubio was restricted to 20 minutes in his first night back, and he had already played over 21. The Timberwolves promptly lost by six points while Rubio could only watch from the bench.
“Trust me, I was dying inside, that I wasn’t able to play and help them,” Rubio said, referring both to the end of the game but also the 42-game stretch he missed. “I went through longer rehab and I learned how to be patient and take advantage of every situation. That situation helped me to grow up and mature as a player.”
Minnesota's season is already a lost cause. Rubio's return may be enough to lift the Timberwolves out of the league's worst record, but it may not. But it will give Rubio valuable playing time with No. 1 draft pick and budding superstar Andrew Wiggins, as well as other young players all up and down the roster. In between these two passes, Rubio and Wiggins also connected on their first alley oop together.
We saw Rubio’s passing again Wednesday in a slightly modified fashion. The in-stride bounce pass, the look away, the little smile and point at the camera -- this is the ultimate Rubio highlight.
— Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) February 5, 2015 There are any number of reasons to watch an NBA game, but Rubio gives you perhaps the best one: there’s a chance he’ll do something you’ve never seen before every time he’s on the court. It’s good to have him back.
★★★
See More:
