Ricky Rubio Shut Down for Remainder of the Season http://t.co/5nW3mi8VaB pic.twitter.com/UCdoLt9umH
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 6, 2015
After being shut down for the season, Wolves guard Ricky Rubio told reporters Monday that he doesn’t know if he’ll play for the Spanish National Team at the European Championships in September.
The Star Tribune notes Rubio, who played in just 22 games for the Timberwolves this season because of recurring left ankle pain, said his main goal is to get healthy.
“Finally I was kind of healthy and I was playing with a little pain,” Rubio said Monday. “But at one point, I couldn’t do any more. It’s tough because I want to be out there on the court. I did everything I could, but I couldn’t.”
In his 22 games, Rubio averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds.
He sprained his ankle Nov. 7 and missed 42 games while he recovered.
Rubio returned to the lineup in February, but missed 11 of the Wolves’ last 12 games because the ankle is still sore, so Wolves president of basketball operations and coach Flip Saunders announced over the weekend the team had decided to shut him down.
“Of course I have thoughts [of playing for the Spanish team], but right now I can’t think about it until the season is over,” Rubio said. “Of course the priority this summer is my health. I haven’t been healthy and I owe this team a lot. In four years, I have one good season, an 82-game season. I owe this team a lot.”
Saunders told FOX Sports North that playing with Spain would be “a decision [Rubio] has to make.” Saunders added that Rubio likely won’t be cleared by team doctors for a “couple of months.”
Rubio begins a 4-year, $55 million contract next season with the Timberwolves.
