Cavs’ Ricky Rubio Expected to Return to Game Action This Month

It’s not been determined exactly when Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio will make his season debut, but it should be in January. And it could be before the middle of the month.

That’s what coach J.B. Bickerstaff predicted, anyway.

“I would expect him, if things go the right way, sometime early next month,” Bickerstaff told reporters last week, via Kelsey Russo of The Athletic. “So we’re definitely progressing in the right direction.”

Rubio has been out for a year with a torn ACL since last year. He suffered the injury as a member of the Cavs, during what was widely viewed as the most inspirational season of his career.

At the time, he was on the brink of a contract extension. Instead, Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman used Rubio’s contract in a trade to land Caris LeVert from the Pacers. Rubio became a free agent t the end of last season, and the Cavs quickly brought him back — knowing he likely wouldn’t play again until 2023.

Well, guess what? It’s 2023, and Rubio has been more than just a fixture on the bench, rooting on his teammates while in street clothes. He also has been going 5-on-5 at practice. 

Granted, the Cavs are expected to bring him back slowly once he does finally suit up. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him under minutes restrictions and sitting out the second game of back-to-backs at first. The idea is to have him ready for the playoffs.

And barring a total meltdown, the playoffs are indeed in the Cavs’ future this season.

So, what is he expected to offer the Cavs? Well, the same thing things as last season. Rubio generally entered the game and got things organized. He was a veteran who controlled the ball and the pace. He got his teammates good looks at the basket. He was basically a coach on the court.

The coaching staff and other Cavs players greatly appreciated him. All-Star point guard Darius Garland admitted that having Rubio around greatly helped his own game.

Remember, this was all before the Donovan Mitchell trade. So it seems as if the Cavs are better this season than last. The addition of Rubio is only expected to take them up a notch — if not right away, then eventually.

Now, it appears as if it’s just a couple of weeks away from happening.

“It’s something we won’t rush,” Bickerstaff said in early December, when Rubio was first cleared for five-on-five work. “He’s heading in the right direction. But it’s too important and he’s too important to rush it.”

Rubio, 32, tied his career-high by averaging 13.1 points in his 34 games with the Cavs last season. He also compiled 6.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds, coming off the bench in all but eight of those appearances.