PHOENIX — Yes, that was Ricky Rubio with his familiar beard and man-bun playing for Phoenix Monday night against the Utah Jazz, wearing the white “Suns” jersey with the purple and orange trim. He was also donning Donovan Mitchell’s black-and-white signature D.O.N. Adidas shoes.
“It’s the first time I’m going to wear somebody’s shoes against them,” he said before the game. “But I like (Mitchell) and have great respect for him.”
Rubio had come into the game averaging 10 points, 10 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game in his first season with the Suns, and he finished with similar numbers Monday — 10 points, eight assists and 10 rebounds.
Following two years in Utah when he helped the Jazz to the playoffs, Rubio signed a 3-year $51 million contract with the Suns after the Jazz made it clear they were going in a different direction at the point guard position.
Rubio made no secret that he would have liked to keep playing for the Utah Jazz, but he understood the reasons why the Jazz let him go and went after Mike Conley in the offseason.
“No, they treated me really well,” he said before Monday night’s game against the Jazz. “But we lost the first series and things had to change. This is business, and I take nothing personal. I had a great time over there.”
After sitting out Saturday’s Suns’ game because of a knee contusion, Rubio was back in action against the Jazz. Beforehand, his former teammates brightened up when asked about playing against Rubio.
“I’m definitely excited to see my mate,” said Mitchell. “It’s going to be cool to go against him again, for sure.”
Rudy Gobert, who, like Mitchell also played in the World Cup during the summer, called it “a little weird after playing with him for a few years,” but said “it was fun to face him.”
Utah coach Quin Snyder talked briefly about Rubio after the morning shootaround, joking, “I’m always happy to see Ricky, unless he kicks our butt.”
Later on when the Phoenix media asked him about Rubio, he expounded greatly on his comments, talking for more than 90 seconds without coming up for air.
Among the things Snyder said were, “It’s hard to overstate the impact Ricky had on our group” and “You feel fortunate, grateful, to have a chance to cross paths with players like him.”
Rubio also said, “I have a lot of friends still there. It’s fun to play against your friends, you know, but once the jump ball is up, it’s about winning.”
Too bad for him, he came up just short against his old mates Monday night.