Ricky Rubio

It's been over a year since Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio has played a game but that changes Thursday as he makes his return from a torn ACL.

[Learn more about our streaming options here.](https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/the-news-5-user-guide-how-to-use-news-5-every-day-to-stay-informed) [Download the News 5 Cleveland app](https://www.news5cleveland.com/about-us/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-news-5-app) now for more stories from us, plus alerts on major news, the latest weather forecast, traffic information and much more. [Roku,](https://www.rokuguide.com/channels/newschannel5) [Apple TV,](https://www.apple.com/tv/) [Amazon Fire TV,](https://www.amazon.com/Scripps-Media-Inc-News-Cleveland/dp/B07796DV1D) YouTube TV, DIRECTV NOW, Hulu Live and more. Rubio's return has been highly anticipated with the way he produced last season, averaging 13.1 points and 6.6 assists in the 34 games he played before the injury. Since then, Rubio has been rehabbing and slowly inching towards a return to game action. 28, 2021 game against the Pelicans, tearing his ACL which required surgery to repair, taking him out for the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio will play Thursday in the team's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

[Jarrett Allen (illness) available for Cleveland Thursday night](/nba/player-news/222262/jarrett-allen-illness-available-for-cleveland-thursday-night)January 12th, 2023 [Ricky Rubio (knee) available on minutes limit for Cavaliers in season debut Thursday](/nba/player-news/222261/ricky-rubio-knee-available-on-minutes-limit-for-cavaliers-in-season-debut-thursday)January 12th, 2023 [Cleveland's Ricky Rubio (knee) questionable on Thursday](/nba/player-news/222180/cleveland-s-ricky-rubio-knee-questionable-on-thursday)January 11th, 2023 [Jarrett Allen (illness) probable for Cleveland on Thursday](/nba/player-news/222177/jarrett-allen-illness-probable-for-cleveland-on-thursday)January 11th, 2023 [Cavaliers' Ricky Rubio (knee) targeting return on Thursday](/nba/player-news/222116/cavaliers-ricky-rubio-knee-targeting-return-on-thursday)January 11th, 2023 [Jarrett Allen (illness) questionable to return for Cleveland on Tuesday](/nba/player-news/222102/jarrett-allen-illness-questionable-to-return-for-cleveland-on-tuesday)January 10th, 2023 It's the 2022-23 debut for Rubio, who tore his ACL last season. [LeBron James (ankle) starting for Lakers on Thursday](/nba/player-news/222267/lebron-james-ankle-starting-for-lakers-on-thursday)January 12th, 2023 [Dwight Powell coming off Mavericks' bench Thursday night](/nba/player-news/222266/dwight-powell-coming-off-mavericks-bench-thursday-night)January 12th, 2023 [Reggie Bullock starting for Mavericks on Thursday; Dwight Powell to bench](/nba/player-news/222265/reggie-bullock-starting-for-mavericks-on-thursday-dwight-powell-to-bench)January 12th, 2023 [Dwight Powell (hip) available for Mavericks on Thursday](/nba/player-news/222264/dwight-powell-hip-available-for-mavericks-on-thursday)January 12th, 2023 [Gary Payton II (ankle) suiting up Thursday for Portland](/nba/player-news/222263/gary-payton-ii-ankle-suiting-up-thursday-for-portland)January 12th, 2023 [Luke Kennard (calf) still out for Los Angeles on Friday](/nba/player-news/222256/luke-kennard-calf-still-out-for-los-angeles-on-friday)January 12th, 2023

Ricky Rubio played for Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night for the first time since injuring his knee more than a year ago.

___ He has averaged 11.1 points and 7.6 assists in 11 seasons. “I’m just being honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been around a guy who has the spirit that Ricky has, that teammates just want to be around and be a part of.

Rubio closed Thursday's 119-113 win over the Trail Blazers with nine points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds and one assist over 10 minutes.

• It is unlikely he becomes anything more than a streaming option in standard fantasy formats, and managers may have to wait a few weeks before we even reach that point. Despite missing more than 12 months, he looked relatively locked in, connecting on a pair of corner threes while running the offense in true Rubio style.

Ricky Rubio will finally be back in the Cavaliers lineup tonight and his return could solve a number of problems for the championship hopefuls.

They previously had less roster flexibility than perhaps any team in the league (their small forward shuffling is more about finding a reliable piece than adjusting to opponents), and their lack of guard depth was a major concern. One cautionary note: one of the weirder statistical phenomenons in the NBA is what I’m calling “even-year Ricky.” In seasons ending in an even year (say, 2021-22), Rubio is typically an average-ish three-point shooter. I’m desperately excited to see if Rubio can fill the Cavs’ hole at the small forward spot, at least in closing lineups. In seasons ending in odd years (like this one, 2022-23), Rubio is always a bricklayer. Rubio is the skeleton key to unlocking both players as off-ball scorers, weaponizing their outside shooting and (particularly Mitchell’s) cutting in a way that is difficult right now unless both are on the court together. So I’m not saying Rubio will have a bad year shooting. Garland and Spida are comfortable playing off the ball, and both have played with Rubio before — Garland last year and Mitchell in his breakout second-year campaign back in 2018-19. However, a Rubio hallmark is speed, and the Cavs are sure to garner easier buckets with Rubio leading the fast break. The team is currently dead last in pace, meaning they often have to grind out offense in the halfcourt. Rubio averaged 13.1 points (tied for his career-high) and nearly seven assists per game while providing veteran leadership for a young team before suffering the injury. Thankfully, Rubio has also grown increasingly more adept off the ball as his career has advanced. Ricky Rubio is set to return Thursday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Portland Trail Blazers.