Ricky Rubio update: Euroleague championship, NBA trade rumors
Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio was one of the hottest topics of NBA discussion and debate last summer, then pretty much fell off the radar once he decided he’d rather stay in Spain for a couple of years than play for the Timberwolves right away.
Don’t think they’ve forgotten about Rubio in Minnesota, though, especially when fans and front-office had to watch fellow ’09 draftees Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings and Darren Collison — all point guards picked after the Wolves took Rubio — go on to make this year’s All-Rookie First Team.
So what has Rubio been up to? Playing for international juggernaut FC Barcelona, the 19-year-old has put more muscle onto his frame and improved his shooting stroke. Rubio averaged 6.7 points per game and copped the Euroleague “Rising Star” award during the season, and over the weekend helped his team win the league championship. Barcelona knocked off Greek’s Olympiakos in the finals.
“To be in the Final Four of the Euroleague, this is where I want to be,” Rubio was quoted in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I’ve worked hard to make it to this goal. And this shows me that I chose the best option. I am so happy on this team. These players help me improve every day and so do the assistant coaches and other staff.”
Popular opinion is that the Wolves, who have a solid young PG in Jonny Flynn, are looking to trade Rubio, perhaps to move up or get more picks in the 2010 Draft. It doesn’t seem anybody in Minnesota really expects last summer’s sensation will ever play for their team, but even if Rubio’s rights wind up in New York or another big market like his people wanted in the first place, he won’t be coming to the NBA until 2011-12.
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May 10th, 2010 at 10:38 am
D3W says:
Nobody cares. By the time he gets here, the PG’s of his draft class will have 2-3 years on him and he will never catch up. Granted he is only 19 years old so he will have the time to catch up, experience is such a huge factor in the NBA that he screwed himself by leaving. He should have never been in last years draft. Such a waste. Set the Timberwolves organization back atleast 5 years…and they were already behind.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:49 am
The Other Aj says:
Kahn is an idiot. He knew last year that Rubio didn’t want to play in Minnesota. Instead of immediately trading his rights for a another player later in the draft (ie collison, etc.) He held on to him playing a stupid game of chicken that they have lost. Now he going to get peanuts trying to trade him to NYC, LA, etc.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:52 am
tja says:
d3w is also an idiot
May 10th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Rising Star award? That’s lame. Sounds like an award they created just so they could give him an award.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:51 am
the big fundamental says:
6.7 points per game is very mediocre if you ask me!
May 10th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
tp says:
@4 thanks for the lols. it really sounds like a most improved award, seems like he has a lot of work to do every year! (biggest bust ever award is coming next)
May 10th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
anen says:
this article is garbage it’s the same old rumors from a year ago
May 10th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
oh says:
u guys r morons. he just led his team to the euroleague championship at 19 years old. obviousluy u guys dont realize that it is the second most competitvie league in the world which features all of europes best teams. it is right behind the nba in terms of talent level and he just won the champonship. i think he has a pretty bright future
May 10th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Flip says:
@5: Looks like youre not aware that Games in the Euroleague are shorter than in the NBA. Plus, he’s a distributing point guard, not a scorer.
Nothing great yet, but not as bad as you make it sound.
May 10th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Jau says:
U kno who else won the rising star award? Andrea bargnani…nuff said
May 10th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
finals says:
Rubio’s going to minni to tear it up with turner, love, jefferson, what ever 20 mil can buy them (max contract, gay, igoudala?… +),flynn, darko, brewer,ellington.
watch
May 10th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
sh!tfaced says:
LOL. Rising Star Award. Sounds like something they give out at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
May 10th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
jdstorm says:
So basically kahn passed on having Rubio, because he wanted to draft another PG with the next pick.
then Rubio goes on to win the euro rookie of the year equivalent and championship. sounds like a great desicion
May 10th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@finals
Rubio may tear it up(I think he can be a very effective NBA point guard) but that team you just listed is not a winning team. Any team who gives a max contract to Gay or Igoudala is living in a skewed sense of reality.
May 11th, 2010 at 8:15 am
BC says:
When did Rubio start doing ads for American Apparel?
May 11th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Pruvio says:
Rising Star Award is like the Rookie of the Year award, it’s for the best player under 22 years old.
Rubio is putting way better numbers than Brandon Jennings did. Plus, he’s the starting PG and one of the best players for the best team in Europe by far, not a backup for a middle-of-the-road team.
Stats in Europe aren’t that important and can be very misleading. Rubio is a baller. I wasn’t very high on him last Summer, I thought it was mostly hype, but this season he proved me wrong, he’s going to be crazy good. Best prospect in Europe since Pau Gasol and Dirk. His floor vision, creativity and game management skills are breath-taking. Plus, he’s a hell of a defender.
May 11th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Neumms says:
Rubio is going to be great. That was the smart move. Jonny Flynn was the dumb move. What the Wolves needed was a shooter, like, say, Curry.
May 11th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
BUDZ says:
what was BRANDON JENNINGS stat during his euro stay?
did he get any playing time or playoff experience there in europe?
mediocre stats. no achievements at all.
but he played really well in his rookie season in the NBA despite doing nothing in europe.
what do you think rubio will do when he gets in the NBA?
stupid haters.
May 12th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
To all you Rubio nay-sayers out there… | Howlin' T-Wolf says:
[...] Austin Burton/Dime Mag [...]
May 19th, 2010 at 3:48 am
ted yu says:
He was a starting point guard in for the champions of the 2nd most competitive league in the world. That’s enough for me that he made the right move.