The new-look Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the feel-good stories of the 2021-22 NBA season thus far, but over the last 24 hours the organization’s outlook has taken a turn for the worse.
Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio suffered an ACL tear in his left knee during Tuesday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cavaliers confirmed on Wednesday. The injury will sideline the 31-year-old for the remainder of the season.
Cleveland feared the worse on Tuesday when Rubio’s knee buckled while he was driving through the lane. Almost immediately, those who were close to the veteran point guard knew the injury was serious.
Rubio had 27 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists prior to leaving the Cavaliers-Pelicans game in the fourth quarter.
Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio has suffered a season-ending ACL tear to his left knee, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 29, 2021
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time that Rubio has torn the ACL in his left knee. He also injured the the ligament in 2012, during his first season in the NBA.
Rubio’s diagnosis this time around is particularly devastating, considering he’d developed into a vital piece of the Cavaliers rotation and a team leader. The 11-year NBA vet was averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game prior to Tuesday night’s game.
“It’s really hard for me because I could see the pain he was in when he went down,” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love said, via Bleacher Report. “Him and I have such a history. I really care for him. I’m just praying that he’s going to be OK. We don’t know what the near future is going to hold for him. We’re just completely gutted. He was having such a great season.”
Love wasn’t the only one heartbroken to receive the news about Rubio. The NBA world was filled with fans and media members expressing their sympathies to the veteran point guard on Wednesday.
This stinks. The Cavaliers have been so much fun to watch this season and Ricky Rubio was a huge part of what made them go. https://t.co/Ah2A1cFjmG
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 29, 2021
Re: Ricky Rubio: Unfortunately suspicions of a torn ACL have been confirmed. He joins Michael Redd and Jabari Parker on the list of NBA players to tear the same ACL twice during their professional career.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) December 29, 2021
Season-ending torn left ACL for Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers announce.
Devastating blow for this season’s foremost surprise team and the reborn Rubio. https://t.co/zNcQP8X7UY
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 29, 2021
ricky rubio was so awesome for cleveland this year. maybe my favorite version of rubio, fiba included
related: before the season, jb bickerstaff told rubio he wanted to see “spanish national team ricky” with the cavs. i asked bickerstaff about that a while back, and he said: pic.twitter.com/LIplo6jTXY
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) December 29, 2021
Collin Sexton – left meniscus tear
Ricky Rubio – left ACL tearJust awful for Cleveland. https://t.co/CrWtIQvIGZ
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 29, 2021
Thoughts and prayers, @rickyrubio9, for a full and speedy recovery….🙏🙏
And thank you for everything that you’ve brought to this organization.
— John Michael (@CavsJMike) December 29, 2021
Hurt for Ricky Rubio. Hurt for the #Cavs, who have lost two of their best backcourt players in the first three months of the season, and especially with the organizational growth they’ve put on display this year. https://t.co/N2rAiv05vu
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) December 29, 2021
Rubio is the second important guard that the Cavaliers have lost to injury this year. 2018 first-round pick Collin Sexton already suffered a torn meniscus earlier this season.
With both backcourt players now out of the picture, the upstart Cavs (20-14) will have to find contributions from other parts of the roster if they hope to remain in possession of an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
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