Ricky Rubio tells Spanish site he'd like Wolves' front office to value his input

Heading into his seventh NBA season, Ricky Rubio told a Spanish-language web site he would like the Wolves' front office to value his opinion.

June 5, 2017 at 7:16PM
Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio
Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (Marci Schmitt — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

If we can glean anything from a Catalan-to-English translation of an interview Wolves guard Ricky Rubio did with a Spanish web site — and that's a big if on multiple levels — it is that the 26-year-old guard, heading into his seventh NBA season, would like the Wolves' front office to value his opinion.

"Yes, I would like to my opinion to have more weight on things that affect the team," Rubio said, according to a translation on Eurohoops.net. "And I think that is linked to the performance on the court. My second leg of the season gives me more power."

That translation pretty much squares up with the one produced using Google translation, so hopefully not much is lost in language change. Essentially, it sounds like Rubio is saying he would like to have a voice when it comes to personnel matters and he believes his strong second-half play in 2016-17 gives him more leverage in that regard. Rubio is the longest-tenured member of the Wolves' active roster, having joined the team in 2011 after being drafted in 2009 out of Spain.

He also addressed the role of leadership, saying (again per the translation), "Both on and off the court. I'm not a man of many words, I don't like to talk much. I prefer deeds, sacrifices and showing that what matters is the team."

The original interview at Ara.cat is a wide-ranging Q&A that touches on a number of subjects including a foundation to help fight cancer in honor of his mother and how he leans on friends and family in tough times.

It ends with a question about the values he learned at home. The translation, from Google, is beautiful.

"The philosophy that I learned is that in our day to day can do many useful things to help other people around us. We spend a lot, but we do our best to improve our environment. I try not to lose innocence."

about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Minnesota Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

See More

More from Wolves

card image

After a slow beginning against Golden State, the Wolves surged back, but the Warriors' superstar went on a shooting tear in the final four minutes.

card image
card image