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Expect to see FIBA Ricky Rubio with the Phoenix Suns

By Kyle Manthe

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - AUGUST 31: #9 Ricky Rubio of Spain in action during the 2019 FIBA World Cup, first round match between Spain and Tunisia at Guangzhou Gymnasium on August 31, 2019 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
GUANGZHOU, CHINA - AUGUST 31: #9 Ricky Rubio of Spain in action during the 2019 FIBA World Cup, first round match between Spain and Tunisia at Guangzhou Gymnasium on August 31, 2019 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) /
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While he may not win any NBA MVP awards, Ricky Rubio should continue to turn heads in his first season as point guard for the Phoenix Suns.

The Phoenix Suns were a bad team last season, but now that FIBA MVP Ricky Rubio is on the roster, expectations should be a little different.

While the Suns may not become a great team, fans should be confident that they will be getting “FIBA Rubio” this upcoming season.

It is not a situation where it would be nice for the Suns if Rubio plays well this season, they are in a spot where he NEEDS to play well for the season to meet expectations.

The Suns have received much criticism this offseason for the contract they gave to Rubio, but even outside of that, Rubio is the main ball-handler and playmaker that will run the offense which makes his play even more important.

The good news for the Suns is that, outside of a dip in scoring, expecting Rubio to play like he did in FIBA is not that crazy of an ask.

Rubio was not crazy efficient with his shooting in the tournament, shooting at 43-39-84 splits.

Obviously the shorter 3-point line helped him out and should not be expected of him this season, but at the same time the less spread out floor hurt Rubio’s creation ability.

Rubio played in the World Cup how he has always played in the NBA: strong play-making and defense, being a smart, team player, and adding to that just enough shooting to get by.

Weather or not you believe his FIBA statistics will translate to the Association, and some believe that many of them could, the impact Rubio is going to have on this young Phoenix Suns team will still be there.

We saw the same type of impact over the short stretch that Tyler Johnson was healthy last season, only it should be to an even higher level.

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Regardless of how you feel about how the final years of Ricky Rubio’s contract will play out as he gets older. At the end of the day he is still only 28-years-old and has yet to give a signal that any part of his game is regressing in a significant way.

In fact, Rubio would probably tell you the stretch of basketball he is most proud of came in the last 90 days. This should give Phoenix Suns fans not just optimism, but confidence that the FIBA version of Ricky Rubio will be there for the Suns next month.

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