Ricky Rubio

[tamburello]

In the best case, he'll enter the draft in 2009, but y'all know that I'm already a big fan of him as well as thousands of people all over the world. I'll try to add the articles that I found about him. I can't wait to see him playing 4-5 years later.

Summary
Ricard Rubio Vives
21.10.1990
6'4''/172
DKV Joventut Badalona
-2006 FIBA Europe U-16 Champ MVP after leading the tournament in points(23.1), rebounds(12.8 ), assists(7.1) and steals(6.5).
-Scored 51 points (including a three-point buzzer-beater shoot from mid court to force the first overtime), grabbed 24 rebounds, made 12 assists and stole the ball 7 times in 110-106 double overtime final victory over Russia.
-During the whole tournament he recorded one quadruple-double and two triple-doubles.
-Made his ACB debut when he was 15, and Euroleague debut at 16.
-2006-07 season, led the Euroleague in steals in the regular season with 3.5 in 18 mpg.
-2006-07 season, led the Euroleague in steals in the top 16 stage with 2.6 in 20 mpg.
-2006-07 season, led the ACB in steals with 2.63 with 19 mpg.

An article about Rubio's first year in Euroleague: http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8109/180/item
If you haven't seen yet, the recap&boxscore of the U-16 match in which he shone: http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.gameID_4771-64-A-1.compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_2006.roundID_4771.teamID_.h tml#{CB045F0A-EF95-4502-A304-88FDCEA742D0}
His full game stats of that U-16 tournament: http://www.fibaeurope-u16men.com/en/Default.asp?cid={F48B5859-256A-44CD-A585-D541E90136D0}&teamID=362&compID={89EB60F8-7F8F-4FFB-9427-6103055F3511}&season=2006&roundID=4752&playerID=53827

[CaptainCrunch]

sounds like a future bobcat to me...Rubio + Herrmann + Marc Gasol=NBA Championship

[123together]

i think we should wait before jumping on his bandwagon because he is doing it against inferior competition

[tamburello]

i think we should wait before jumping on his bandwagon because he is doing it against inferior competition

You should first watch a Euroleague game before calling it an "inferior competition". I will never accept Euroleague as inferior of NBA.

If you didn't mean Euroleague as inferior, how can't you get the truth that he has the greatest potential of being a real real real legend? He's only 16 and see what is he doing.

[Dead_Real]

Sounds like a baller thanks for the info tamburello

[CaptainCrunch]

123 wasn't saying the league is inferior, there are very talented players over there, they are just not as good as what he would face in the nba

[WarioVsMooChicken]

We better get this guy...For me, it's hard to believe someone one day younger then me can be so good...

[dvdbumpus]

Wow...he's only 16?

[Colin Fearn]

wow really?? 16
the only thing that looks bad is bust in NBA or no more imporvement
but MAN when he beat russia is he on the national team or something woah
cant wait for this guy

[dav7z]

Wow this kid looks like the real deal. and only 16. Just hope we can get our hands on him in the next few years...........

[tamburello]

He recently signed a six year deal with his club, Joventut, which will keep him until 2012(when he'd be 22) with a buyout clause of 6 million dollars.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Screw him then! :(

(At least until 2012)

[tamburello]

I found a great video of Rubio. In this video there is an alley-oop he made with Rudy Fernandez. Look at his face, he's still kid.

http://video.eurosport.com/2007/03/17/basketball_euroleagueshow_report_ricky_1603_com_36 860_4_8_0_320x240.wmv

[123together]

ricky rubio i now realize is a true baller

[Slam]

He's being tagged already as the next Magic Johnson.

He sure will hit the NBA with massive expecations.

[Jonathanmartin7]

I really impressive kid. Will probably be drafted in 2 years, just so somebody can have his rights when his contract expires. Or maybe somebody will buy out his contract.

[timang]

still 16? my goodness! that's crazy. he really got skills. i've seen his vid versus russia on youtube. makes very good decisions for a young guy.

[tamburello]

The time to update this thread has come. Because 3 days ago I watched him... live.. with my eyes...

Ricky's team DKV Joventut had come to my city Ankara to play a ULEB CUP (the second biggest club tournament in Europe after Euroleague) game. I had been waiting that game for months with an huge excitement. Unfortunately because of an exam in my school, I arrived the arena in middle of the first quarter. But I will never forget the rest of the match. I will tell this match to my grandchildren and say "I watched Ricky when he was 17". But I'm regretting for forgetting the digital photograph machine as hell..

I've never seen such a thing, neither on TV nor live. A kid who's recently turned 17 was leading his team in every aspect of the game. I am not talking about his score, assists or whatever.. He was the "leader" of an undefeated team in the cup.

Rubio actually isn't known with his scoring abilities but Joventut didn't bring their leading scorer Rudy Fernandez (you already know him his rights are held by Blazers right now). So Ricky had to carry the scoring load.. and he did. He scored a career high 29 points, with 10/11 fg, 3/3 3pt and 6/7 ft's. He added 10 assists and 3 steals. He made a lot of difficult baskets, made great layups and he dominated the game in defense and offense.

His decision-making, play-making abilities, defensive instincts, the maturity he displayed were far beyond the logical limits. He has not a muscular body, but he plays with his brains(and also long arms of course). You can tell him a kid only when you look at his face: He has an extremely childish face. He even has no facial hair.

He lacks only some experience, the guard against him trapped for a couple of times, he commited 3 easy fouls and he had to sat when he was catching fire on offense. If he hadn't gone to bench, he would have scored 35+ points easily. He needs to strenghten his body in order to play in the NBA. He also made 1-2 critical turnovers when game was on line, but we're talking about a 17 year old kid. 17!!!

His team lost the game, but I'm proud that I was among a few people who cheered for Ricky while he was leaving the court in front of us. I feel myself very lucky, I've seen him for the first time, maybe the last time. I'm fully convinced that he has the potential to be the best European player ever. I'm sure if he'd be a Bobcat today, he'd immediately made us playoff contenders despite our record.

He's so special, I cannot wait to see him playing after 6-7 years.

The boxscore of the game: http://www.ulebcup.com/ulebcup/competition/results/showgame?gamecode=191

[davcbow]

Wow; 29 pts in 28 minutes 7/8-fg 3/3-3pt 6/7-FF 2-rb 10-ast 3-steals 4-TO's

17 years old This kid is going to be awesome...... :g:

[babyj42]

yeah i just watched some film of him on you tube its funny that this just got updated... he reminds me a lot of a young pistol pete and really seems like he is going to be special at the next level... he would put people in the seats and would really add a franchise player to whoever is lucky enough to get him in the draft