a lil bit of rubio on hoopsworld for people who swear hes gonna be a star in day one
Ricky Rubio may be the biggest question mark in the 2009 NBA Draft. Aside from the fact that he's played against lesser talent in Europe without really standing out as a would-be impact player in the NBA, there's the question of whether or not he'll be able to negotiate a buyout with DKV Joventut, the team that currently owns his rights. Some say he could be a Steve Nash type of player, who understands how to play below the rim and get the most out of his teammates, while also creating plenty of offense for himself. His ball handling skills have also earned him comparisons to "Pistol" Pete Maravich. On the other hand, the questions surrounding him have the rumor mill saying the young man who might have been the second overall pick in the draft now falling to fourth . . .and the Sacramento Kings.
Rubio is in Sacramento now, and sat down with our friend Sam Amick of The Sacramento Bee to talk about what he hopes to accomplish in the NBA. First and foremost, he made it clear he wants to play.
"I come here to play and to play the minutes. I didn't come here to play in the NBA, and (be) done. No, I want to be a really good point guard here in the best league in the world, and I want to have minutes. So I have to find the team who wants me, who really wants me."
Rubio caught the world's attention as part of the Spanish National team that took Team USA to the limit and wound up winning the Silver Medal in the 2008 Olympics. On that team he got to play with the likes of the Lakers' Pau Gasol and his brother Marc of the Grizzlies, as well as Portland's Rudy Fernandez and Toronto's Jose Calderon. He credits that experience, as well as competing against Team USA's All-Stars, as helping him prepare for making the jump to the NBA.
Ricky Rubio may be the biggest question mark in the 2009 NBA Draft. Aside from the fact that he's played against lesser talent in Europe without really standing out as a would-be impact player in the NBA, there's the question of whether or not he'll be able to negotiate a buyout with DKV Joventut, the team that currently owns his rights. Some say he could be a Steve Nash type of player, who understands how to play below the rim and get the most out of his teammates, while also creating plenty of offense for himself. His ball handling skills have also earned him comparisons to "Pistol" Pete Maravich. On the other hand, the questions surrounding him have the rumor mill saying the young man who might have been the second overall pick in the draft now falling to fourth . . .and the Sacramento Kings.
Rubio is in Sacramento now, and sat down with our friend Sam Amick of The Sacramento Bee to talk about what he hopes to accomplish in the NBA. First and foremost, he made it clear he wants to play.
"I come here to play and to play the minutes. I didn't come here to play in the NBA, and (be) done. No, I want to be a really good point guard here in the best league in the world, and I want to have minutes. So I have to find the team who wants me, who really wants me."
Rubio caught the world's attention as part of the Spanish National team that took Team USA to the limit and wound up winning the Silver Medal in the 2008 Olympics. On that team he got to play with the likes of the Lakers' Pau Gasol and his brother Marc of the Grizzlies, as well as Portland's Rudy Fernandez and Toronto's Jose Calderon. He credits that experience, as well as competing against Team USA's All-Stars, as helping him prepare for making the jump to the NBA.