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Ricky Rubio watches the NBA playoffs while spinning around an airport’s baggage carousel (PHOTO)

The NBA and its players let out a collective sigh in March when Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Ricky Rubio tore his ACL, ending what had been a fantastic initial NBA run. The outpouring of grief, surrounding a player that had suited up for just 41 contests at that point, was a reminder of just how big NBA fans actual NBA players are. So it's no surprise that Rubio is returning the favor, scoping out Game 1 of the Western conference finals and rehabbing that knee wherever he can.

Even if it means lounging at an airport's baggage carousel. From Ricky's Twitter account:

After picking up his brother from the airport, it appears as if Rubio continued to keep that knee elevated, always a good move.

Rubio made the All-NBA Rookie First Team last week, and finished second in the Rookie of the Year vote, a testament to his marvelous off-ball defense (with plenty of charges taken alongside 2.2 steals a game) and ability to dish the ball (8.2 assists a night in 34 minutes a game), in spite of his iffy 35 percent shooting mark. And the fact that he's going out of his way to take in a matchup featuring all-world guards Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook, risking a nasty glare from airport security along the way, is a warming note.

Get well soon, Ricky. Keep us elevated.

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