By Kyle Soppe
“This is your captain Kyle Soppe speaking. I just want to ensure everyone on this Ricky Rubio bandwagon is in for a stellar career, not just a great start. I’d like to command those few faces that I’ve seen on this train since the very beginning, that magical day in 2009, when Rubio was drafted into the National Basketball Association. This is a bandwagon without boundaries, as we are always welcoming those who have seen the light. Buckle up and “testigo” the point guard position being played at its highest level.”
Mr. Ricky Rubio was a surprise pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA draft, as he was selected fifth overall, ahead of many “can’t miss” American prospects. The T-wolves took Johnny Flynn with the next selection, as a safety precaution, as Rubio’s professional team in El Masnou (near Barcelona) had the rights to enforce an expensive buyout clause. Joventut, the team in which Rubio had played with since he was 14 years old, wanted badly to cash in on Rubio’s prime time ability, and set the buyout price at an eye popping $6.6 million. Under most circumstances, this wouldn’t be much of an issue for a professional organization (we just saw the Texas Rangers cough $51.7 million for the right to negotiate with Yu Darvish). But under NBA rules, a franchise can only shell out $500,000 in such a situation, leaving Rubio seemingly trapped in Spain. He inked a new contract that would take him to 2014, but had an NBA option in 2011-2012.
While his game grew, but statistics diminished, he fell off of the national radar. He was able to transfer to Barcelona’s professional team, Europe’s version of the Yankees. The move did Rubio plenty of good, but no longer was he the Youtube sensation in the States. Barcelona routinely had superior talent, and thus played in a very structured format that would stunt Rubio’s highlight pass potential. He was asked, or ever put into a position, to score, and the people that lost their minds when viewing his creativity as a 17 year old suddenly had their doubts. Rubio played along, but saw his production fall. He averaged a meager six points per game, and shot only 36% from the field. Point guards that can’t shoot and have relatively little impact on an offense are in very low demand in the NBA, and skeptic’s whispers grew louder.
Johnny Flynn did nothing to secure the starting gig in Minnesota, and finally the two year waiting period was over. Testigo, my nickname for Rubio which means “witness” in Spanish, rewarded the T-wolves loyalty immediately. His court vision did not disappear, and his run and gun style was only dormant for Barcelona, not dead. The shaggy haired Spaniard is making plays left and right, and has made Minnesota (who averaged 66 losses per season since drafting Rubio) not only a team to watch, but a team to fear. Kevin Love is a stud, but even he couldn’t make a playoff run by himself. Rubio’s slick ball handling and unreal ability to set up easy buckets has Timberwolves fans reminiscing about the Kevin Garnett days.
Ricky Rubio, now 21 years old and with seven years of professional hoops behind him, compares very favorably to other great point guards when they turned 21. Rubio is averaging 11 points per game while dishing out 8.3 assists per contest. Keep in mind that not until recently had he been inserted into the starting lineup. His efficiency shooting the ball has improved, as he hits 40% of his field goal attempts, 41% of his trifectas, and 80% of his free throws. Despite his frail build, 6’4” 180 lbs, he grabs 4.6 rebounds and records 2.4 steals nightly.
Jason Kidd turned 21 during his rookie season with the Mavs, and put up eerily similar numbers. He was a less efficient shooter (39%-27%-70%) and had less assists per turnover. Yes, that’s not a typo: Kidd, who trails only Ray Allen and Reggie Miller in career three pointers, couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn when he was 21.
Steve Nash was in his junior season at Santa Clara at the age of 21. Not yet playing against grown men, Nash averaged less assists, rebounds, and steals than Rubio does thus far.
Chris Paul entered his second year in the NBA with the Hornets, fresh off of a rookie of the year campaign as a 20 year old. CP3’s efficiency as a scorer was similar to that of Rubio (44%-35%-82%) but he took more shots, and thus scored at a much higher clip (17.3ppg). With equal assist and rebound numbers, this seems like an apt comparison. That being said, Paul (a three time NBA leader in thefts) averaged 0.6 less steals per game.
Dwyane Wade, was a unanimous All-Rookie Team selection in 2003-2004, but was unable to match Rubio’s current production. He only shot 30% from deep, and contributed half the assists of Testigo, despite averaging the same number of turnovers.
One of the best play makers of all time, John Stockton, was a senior at Gonzaga when he celebrated his 21st. A hall of fame PG could surely out produce this hot shot rookie statistically, right? Stockton did average nearly 21 points, but wasn’t in Rubio’s category in assists (7.1), rebounds (2.5), or free throw shooting (69%).
“Thank you for boarding the Rubio Express. While it was been a short ride thus far, the best is yet to come. Remember to keep your eyes on the ball at all times, as you never know when Rubio will look your way.”
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