The Official Ricky Rubio thread

[mdc]

Even though he's not eligible until 2009, I thought I'd start a thread on Ricky Rubio. It's just too interesting a story for it not to have its own thread.

Some quick trivia for those unfamiliar with Ricky:
- He's a 6"5 (and growing) Spanish PG
- As a 15 year old, he scored 51pts/24rebs/12assts/7steals in the final of the U/16 European Championships.
- As a 16 year old, he led the Euroleague in steals with 3.45/game...in just 18 mpg!
- As a 17 year old (his current age), he was third in efficiency in the entire Spanish ACB league (considered the 2nd best domestic league in the world).

Here is his DraftExpress profile. It's a good read.

Here's an article from SLAM going a few months back.

Some highlights:
[youtube]xvnKmfAe-Bg[/youtube]



The question, obviously, is will his unprecedented success at a young age in the toughest league in Europe translate to the NBA? Unlike a lot of Euro guys, his defense is actually a strength for him, so that side shouldn't be a problem.

So where does everyone see him at the NBA level?... Starter? All-Star? HOFer?

Or to put it another way...if you could trade away a current NBA player for the rights to this kid, who's the best player you'd give up?

 

[DoubleA]

Id keep this thread on ice for a few years.

 

[Cruiser23]

Bump

Ricky is a freak, will go number 1 in the 09 Draft for sure. Just saw him pretty much save the game for Spain against China. Just check some of this out:

[YOUTUBE]KqLGzkhRHN8[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]MOXbOvyOQRc&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[rainman06]

Very impressive this kid. Has got that rare ability to see the play 5 seconds before it happens....Allen Iverson like.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Wowee aye, talent to burn on displace against China.

 

[peternorth]

needs to work on his D

 

[Osmodiar]

He looks the goods. Very sharp will get a game nearly anywhere.

 

[justthedukes]

Huge Potential.

 

[PVF]

The last 5 mintues of the China game he was great. Got like 5 steals in that period.

 

[peternorth]

boxscore line for him looked good against germany. watched the last Q and a bit of the 3rd, nothing struck me as #1 pick

 

[Cruiser23]

boxscore line for him looked good against germany. watched the last Q and a bit of the 3rd, nothing struck me as #1 pick

Yeh, saw it too, didn't play great but you have to remember he is only 17. The highlights above are amazing, he definitely has everything in his arsenal to be the number 1 pick next year, pure point guard.

 

[ExTasDeeMan]

Was amazing to watch - not sure if he'll go 1 though...

 

[XClemX]

yeah i think he would go in the draft, but where would be anyone's guess...i like his form tho...a name to remember...

 

[peternorth]

Yeh, saw it too, didn't play great but you have to remember he is only 17. The highlights above are amazing, he definitely has everything in his arsenal to be the number 1 pick next year, pure point guard.

i know. those highlights are amazing. he never misses and his passes always end up in baskets!

 

[Cruiser23]

i know. those highlights are amazing. he never misses and his passes always end up in baskets!

Haha, a very funny bloke i see.

 

[mdc]

i know. those highlights are amazing. he never misses and his passes always end up in baskets!

get some new material pete.

 

[peternorth]

Haha, a very funny bloke i see.

well come on look at any bball player on youtube and you'll see the same, only highlights. hardly an indication of the way they actually play.

if you reckon he'll go no 1 next year then fair enough. ill be the first to bump this thread and quote you on it.

 

[sirlothie]

well come on look at any bball player on youtube and you'll see the same, only highlights. hardly an indication of the way they actually play.

if you reckon he'll go no 1 next year then fair enough. ill be the first to bump this thread and quote you on it.

That's true, a good scout should look at all a player's ****-ups to get a true indication of him would be better than his highlight reel. Then you can see what kind of decisions he makes... ie. had the right idea or dumb shit/show pony mistakes.

His competition in that clip looks a lot slower and more stagnant than NBA is too.

 

[DoubleA]

The highlights above are amazing, he definitely has everything in his arsenal to be the number 1 pick next year, pure point guard.

Except by NBA law he can't...

 

[mdc]

His competition in that clip looks a lot slower and more stagnant than NBA is too.

His competition is the Euroleague and the Spanish league - namely the two best leagues in the world outside the NBA. Miles better than college basketball, fwiw.

Except by NBA law he can't...

Pretty sure he's eligible in 2009. At least DX thinks so.

 

[DoubleA]

Pretty sure he's eligible in 2009. At least DX thinks so.

All players must be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year of the draft

Won't he only be 18?

 

[mdc]

All players must be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year of the draft

Won't he only be 18?

I think it works slightly differently for Euros, but don't quote me on it.

Hope he goes next year, can't wait to see him in the NBA.

 

[XClemX]

All players must be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year of the draft

Won't he only be 18?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ricky-Rubio-1155/

DOB 21/10/1990 making him 19 in the calender year.

I highly doubt he will be taken at 1. At a guess he would have to be playing for a college for him to get No. 1 status, but again I would be happy to be wrong.

 

[DoubleA]

I highly doubt he will be taken at 1. At a guess he would have to be playing for a college for him to get No. 1 status, but again I would be happy to be wrong.

Ming/Bagnarni ?

If he has the talent, and the team needs a PG and marketing exposure, he'll go no.1

 

[peternorth]

if they have the chance, miami, all texan teams, LA (both teams) should position themselves for a shot at ricky. even if he doesnt get much of a run the franchise will sell a lot of jerseys and attract a massive hispanic crowd.