6. Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio has been the cause of many debates since being drafted in 2009 with the fifth overall pick. Fans either love Rubio or hate him, there doesn’t seem to be an in-between.
Even though Rubio was drafted in 2009, he didn’t come to the NBA until two years later, making his debut at the start of the 2011-12 season.
Rubio’s first ever game NBA game came at the Target Center in front of the franchise’s first sellout crowd in four years.
He had a promising start but unfortunately, it was shortened when disaster hit. He tore his ACL in March of 2012 and wouldn’t appear in another game until next December.
Even given Rubio’s shortened rookie season, he still finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting and made the All-Rookie First team.
Throughout Rubio’s first six seasons in the NBA, he has constantly dazzled fans with his brilliant and creative passing.
He’s never had a season with less than 7.3 assists per game and finished this past season averaging a career-high 9.1.
Rubio has also finished in the NBA’s top ten in assists per game five times throughout his career.
Although he’s best known for his passing, it is important not to sleep on him on the defensive side of the floor.
Rubio has landed in the top ten in steals per game four different times. Three of those years he averaged more than two steals per game.
He was on a tear to finish the 2016-17 season and appears to be just hitting his stride as a player.
If Rubio continues to play like he did during the second half of this past season, he will tear up this list in a hurry.