By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Projected to miss a large chunk of the 2022-23 season, Ricky Rubio signed a three-year contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He tore his left ACL last December.
Rubio, 31, was traded to the Indiana Pacers after being ruled out for the remainder of the season. Becoming a free agent in the offseason, he made his way back to Cleveland. Now plans to continue recovering but not on setting a specific date or month to join the action in the 2022-23 season.
“I wanted to be ready for training camp but I knew it was impossible,” he said appearing at the 2022 preseason Media Day, “Talking with my trainers and medical staff, they say 10-12 months but it’s a long range. It changes every week. At the end of the day, putting a date on it, for me personally, I need it. But I think it’s not good to put a date when I’m going to be back.”
“Been working hard this summer, putting in a lot of work,” he added, “Let’s see how it goes the next two or three weeks, working on some parts with the team and then see how my mind and my body connect together to really go back out there and play again. The contact part is going to be the most important to see where I’m at. I’m going to take my time. I’m going to go step by step. Don’t skip any phases in this process because we have been working hard in this process to get where I want to be.”
Simply being cleared for contact would be the first step. The Spanish point guard hopes he will not need to hold back to finally start his 12th NBA season.
“We have a plan to come back stronger and I’m reaching there. I feel I had the best summer I ever felt in my career,” he clarified, “I wish I knew. Hopefully December, but who knows? At the end of the day, I may be playing in late November or I may be playing in January or February. Don’t want to put a date. But one thing for sure when I’m back I will be 120%.”
Before being forced on the injury list, Rubio was on a roll logging 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contest over 34 appearances with the Cavs in the 2021-22 season.
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