Ricky Rubio has won the Dunking with Wolves 2016-17 Minnesota Timberwolves’ Most Improved Player award.
For a young team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, many players are expected to make a leap as they become more acclimated to the NBA game. The likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins certainly didn’t disappoint either.
Both increased their points, rebounds, and assists per game from last season, and KAT will certainly be getting consideration for an All-NBA team.
The progress that these two have shown is come to be expected from the former number one overall picks in their second and third years.
The staff at Dunking With Wolves decided to go in a different direction with our Most Improved Player award: Mr. Ricky Rubio.
If you take a look at Rubio’s per game stats from last year and compare them to this year’s it is hard to decipher how we landed on him as our most improved.
But if you dive deeper and look at his pre and post All-Star game splits, this is where you see real improvement. Since the all-star break Rubio is averaging 16 points, 4.6 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game, all while shooting 42 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.
Since the all-star break Rubio is averaging 16 points, 4.6 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game, all while shooting 42 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.
He’s been a legitimate threat from the perimeter and has looked to score whenever he has the opportunity.
The real question is whether or not this will be sustainable. While Rubio has always been renowned for his incredible passing, the biggest knock in his game has always been his ability to hit outside shots. If Rubio has indeed turned a corner with his shooting stroke, then the Wolves might be more inclined to keep him around.
While Rubio has always been renowned for his incredible passing, the biggest knock in his game has always been his ability to hit outside shots. If Rubio has indeed turned a corner with his shooting stroke, then the Minnesota Timberwolves might be more inclined to keep him around.
This leaves a big decision for Tom Thibodeau going into the offseason.
If he believes that Rubio is going to be one of his core pieces going forward, then it will affect how the team builds the roster this summer.
But, if Thibs doesn’t believe in Rubio then he should capitalize on his hot-streak and see if he can be flipped for more assets.
Related Story: Three Potential Trades for Ricky Rubio
Getting rid of your most improved player isn’t normally something that most teams would consider doing, but when it comes to Rubio, normal has never been his calling.