Ricky Rubio appeared in only 22 games in 2014-15 while battling ankle injuries.

Rubio appeared in only 22 games in 2014-15 while battling ankle injuries.

Analysis:

Durability was an issue for Rubio during his first two NBA seasons, but he played and started all 82 games in 2013-14. The injury bug returned this season, however, robbing him of two significant chunks of time. Just five games into the season, Rubio went down with a severe left ankle sprain, which kept him out from early November to early February. Once Rubio returned to the court, he did not look like himself, as he shot just 33 percent in February while turning the ball over more than three times per game in 31.4 minutes. The struggles continued until he re-aggravated the left ankle injury against the Thunder on Mar. 13. Rubio would appear in only one more game the rest of the season as the Timberwolves went into a freefall and finished the season on a 13-game losing streak. Minnesota announced on April 13 that Rubio underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on the ankle, a procedure that will entail a recovery period of a few months. Barring a setback, Rubio will be at full strength for the start of training camp in the fall, and all signs point to him opening the season as the starting point guard.