Re-drafting the 2009 NBA Draft: 10) Ricky Rubio, Milwaukee Bucks
It’s easy to forget now, but there was a ton of fanfare surrounding Ricky Rubio going into this draft. Considering that he was rifling passes and contorting opposing defenses at age 14, it’s hard to blame teams — and the team that drafted him, the Minnesota Timberwolves — for buying into the hype.
NBADraft.net even went as far as comparing Rubio to two-time league MVP and future Hall of Famer Steve Nash and fellow compatriot Jose Calderon, stating that Rubio was, “one of the purest point guards to come along in a while” and had “a great and natural feel for the game allows him to see plays before they materialize, keeping him one step ahead of the opposition”.
It took a couple of years for Rubio to make the jump to the NBA. When he did, he brought his vast toolbox of passes with him. However, Rubio’s rickety jump shot precluded him from reaching the upper echelon of NBA guards.
In eight seasons with the Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz, where he apparently decided to become Seth Rollins’ twin, Rubio has averaged 11.2 points and 7.7 assists per game, though the 51.1 true shooting percentage leaves a lot to be desired.
Even though his WS/48 paints him as an average player, Rubio would’ve still been a massive upgrade over analytics scourge Brandon Jennings, a man who was so inefficient, he once passed up an open layup to jack up a mid-range shot during a game.
This franchise actually had the gumption to pair Jennings with Monta Ellis at one point. Thank goodness they drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo a few years later.