Sometimes injuries make athletes better while they are recuperating.

This is definitely the case with Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves guard was an ordinary shooter before he got hurt. But since he's come back, he's close to a 50 percent regular shooter, a much better than average 3-point shooter and a 100-percent improved free throw shooter.

The chance to work on these different aspects of his game while he was out with an ankle injury was good for Rubio. He also was always a great passer, and now he's even a better passer, and he is making young players like Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine much better players. The only reason that the Wolves rallied from a 14-point deficit last night against Golden State, before losing, was the performance of Rubio, who outplayed the great players on the Warriors like Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.

The Wolves' future is great, and fortunately Rubio is signed to a long-term contract.