SALT LAKE CITY — In his first game back in Salt Lake City since walking off the court after Utah’s only playoff win in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets on April 22, 2019, Ricky Rubio — now with the Phoenix Suns — dominated against his former team.
Rubio was one of — if not the — best players on the court for the Suns on Monday, scoring 22 points, dishing out 11 assists and stealing the ball seven times as Phoenix outclassed the Jazz on their home floor, 131-111.
“Ricky, coming back here — that’s a tough game to play against your former team. So many emotions probably going through his mind and memories and all that,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “He dominated the game. He had seven steals. That was a big-time defensive effort to end the road trip.”
“Just a great teammate, on and off the court. An unselfish guy that wanted everyone to be really good around him. He made a lot of us better.” — Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles on Ricky Rubio
Rubio finished with a game-high plus-31 in 32-plus minutes of playing time. At times, it looked like he knew the exact play Utah was running and stepped in the passing lanes to get a steal.
“I know their game. I played with them for a long time, so I know their game — the same way they know mine,” Rubio said.
It was among the best performances of the season for the Suns floor general, who said he is feeling fresh following the All-Star break. Since the break, Rubio is averaging 17.7 points per game.
“All-Star break helped me to get fresh legs and feel good. I feel fresh and I just want to play basketball. I just went out there and balled,” Rubio said.
With Phoenix, Rubio is averaging 12.6 points, 8.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
Williams likes what Rubio has brought to the Suns.
“His leadership, his demeanor, obviously the game that he brings, the winning attitude. He’s a great dude. He’s perservered this year through a lot. That’s said a lot about him and it’s really inspired our team in moments,” Williams said.
Rubio is now a father, with his wife giving birth to a baby boy in January.
“He’s a new dad and he’s got all kinds of stuff on his plate. I feel bad at times when I see him in the morning. He’s been huge for us,” Williams said.
Rubio had good and bad moments in his two years in Utah, with his most memorable performance coming in Game 3 of the 2018 playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He turned in a triple-double — 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists — as the crowd chanted “Rubio! Rubio! Rubio!” But he proved to be an inconsistent offensive threat in Utah. In the offseason the Jazz opted to go with Mike Conley at point guard and let Rubio walk.
Rubio’s former teammates and coaches had nothing but good things to say about the former Jazz point guard.
“He’s my guy. What do I miss the most about Ricky? Ricky. Just like him as the person. I miss Ricky as the person. Obviously, basketball speaks for itself. He’s just a great teammate, a great unselfish player. He taught me so much, has so much knowledge. I think that’s the thing with a guy like him. He’s so unselfish and kind. He had a Super Bowl party and invited everybody to his house. That’s the type of guy he is. He would have everyone for dinner,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said.
Rubio walked into Vivint Arena on Monday wearing a Joe Ingles shirt, and Ingles returned the love.
“Just a great teammate, on and off the court. An unselfish guy that wanted everyone to be really good around him. He made a lot of us better,” Ingles said.
When Jazz coach Quin Snyder was asked what he enjoyed about Rubio, he replied, ‘What didn’t I enjoy?’
“There’s certain players that you just have respect for,” Snyder said. “Not to diminish any of the guys we’ve had or the guys we have now, but I think the guys on this team will appreciate someone who competes the way he does and wants to win.”
Snyder still keeps in touch with Rubio and was happy he led Spain to FIBA gold over the summer.
“There’s certain guys that you know you’ll be close with. It’s beyond basketball,” Snyder said.
Rubio returned the respect that his former teammates and coaches gave him.
“Here, we bond even more with the teammates, with the staff, with the crowd after the playoffs. It’s amazing and I have great memories of here and I still have a lot of friends,” Rubio said.
Rubio said he talked to Mitchell, Ingles and Georges Niang, among others, adding that they will be “friends forever.”
Rubio was cheered loudly by fans when he was introduced and the Jazz played a tribute video for him at a timeout.
“I have nothing but amazing words for the Utah Jazz organization, for the fans, for the people that live here. I had a really, really good two years — not just me, my family really enjoyed here too. That means a lot to me to come back here and know they still have some love for me,” Rubio said.