Robin Miller
08-18-2008, 06:04 PM
Killion: Warriors should have a look at Spain's Rubio
A 17-YEAR-OLD LIKENED TO MARAVICH STANDS OUT IN GAME DOMINATED BY U.S.
By Ann Killion Mercury News Sports Columnist
08/16/2008 06:14:42 PM PDT
BEIJING - I had to come all the way to China to do it, but I have solved the
Warriors' problem at point guard.
His name is Ricky Rubio. But you can call him Ricky.
Rubio is going to be a hot commodity, so acquiring him would take a
combination of fervent prayers and a lousy season or two, but Warriors fans
are accustomed to both. And this 17-year-old might just be worth the
sacrifice.
"He's going to be good," Jason Kidd said of the Kid. "He's getting a lot of
attention, and he's handled it quite well. The sky's the limit."
Saturday's game between the two basketball heavyweights in the Olympic Group
B turned into a blowout: United States 119, Spain 82. The Americans clinched
the top spot in their bracket. Spain, the defending world champion, looked
like it had taken a lesson in lethargy from the 2004 U.S. team.
It was garbage time early, so the only thing left to do was a little
scouting for the Warriors. I can envision Monta Ellis and Rubio in the
backcourt. There wouldn't be any defense being played, but there would be
plenty of entertainment.
Rubio is 6-foot-3, 189 pounds and, with his longish hair and wide smile,
something of teen idol. He is being called the Pete Maravich of Spain. He
could also be called the Ronaldo of basketball. Like a Brazilian soccer star
or Madonna, he can get away with one name: the back of his jersey says
simply "Ricky."
How young is Rubio? He told a reporter this week that he grew up watching
Chris Paul.
Paul is 23.
On Saturday, Rubio was on the same court with his idol.
"He's pretty good." Paul said. "I tried to make him turn the ball over."
Rubio had four turnovers, eight points, three assists, three steals and
three rebounds in 18 minutes. More than a decade younger than most of his
Spanish teammates, Rubio also made plenty of no-look passes, bounce passes
and an up-top pass to Pau Gasol for a dunk.
"I was nothing compared to him when I was 17," Gasol said earlier this
month. Gasol was drafted when he was 20. "His maturity and confidence level
is extremely high for his age."
Rubio looked as comfortable in the highest level of international play as
most 17-year-olds look sitting on the couch watching UFC.
Rubio has been targeted for NBA stardom for three years, or about a fifth of
his life. He started playing for Spain's top professional league when he was
14, the youngest player to ever to do so.
Though his parents have tried to shelter him, and he has relatively little
media exposure (he skipped Saturday's postgame interview session), he does
have an agent in Los Angeles. There is a question over whether he would be
eligible for next spring's draft or in 2010, but he's already being
projected as a top-five pick.
So why not for the Warriors?
Contact Ann Killion at akillion@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5805.
A 17-YEAR-OLD LIKENED TO MARAVICH STANDS OUT IN GAME DOMINATED BY U.S.
By Ann Killion Mercury News Sports Columnist
08/16/2008 06:14:42 PM PDT
BEIJING - I had to come all the way to China to do it, but I have solved the
Warriors' problem at point guard.
His name is Ricky Rubio. But you can call him Ricky.
Rubio is going to be a hot commodity, so acquiring him would take a
combination of fervent prayers and a lousy season or two, but Warriors fans
are accustomed to both. And this 17-year-old might just be worth the
sacrifice.
"He's going to be good," Jason Kidd said of the Kid. "He's getting a lot of
attention, and he's handled it quite well. The sky's the limit."
Saturday's game between the two basketball heavyweights in the Olympic Group
B turned into a blowout: United States 119, Spain 82. The Americans clinched
the top spot in their bracket. Spain, the defending world champion, looked
like it had taken a lesson in lethargy from the 2004 U.S. team.
It was garbage time early, so the only thing left to do was a little
scouting for the Warriors. I can envision Monta Ellis and Rubio in the
backcourt. There wouldn't be any defense being played, but there would be
plenty of entertainment.
Rubio is 6-foot-3, 189 pounds and, with his longish hair and wide smile,
something of teen idol. He is being called the Pete Maravich of Spain. He
could also be called the Ronaldo of basketball. Like a Brazilian soccer star
or Madonna, he can get away with one name: the back of his jersey says
simply "Ricky."
How young is Rubio? He told a reporter this week that he grew up watching
Chris Paul.
Paul is 23.
On Saturday, Rubio was on the same court with his idol.
"He's pretty good." Paul said. "I tried to make him turn the ball over."
Rubio had four turnovers, eight points, three assists, three steals and
three rebounds in 18 minutes. More than a decade younger than most of his
Spanish teammates, Rubio also made plenty of no-look passes, bounce passes
and an up-top pass to Pau Gasol for a dunk.
"I was nothing compared to him when I was 17," Gasol said earlier this
month. Gasol was drafted when he was 20. "His maturity and confidence level
is extremely high for his age."
Rubio looked as comfortable in the highest level of international play as
most 17-year-olds look sitting on the couch watching UFC.
Rubio has been targeted for NBA stardom for three years, or about a fifth of
his life. He started playing for Spain's top professional league when he was
14, the youngest player to ever to do so.
Though his parents have tried to shelter him, and he has relatively little
media exposure (he skipped Saturday's postgame interview session), he does
have an agent in Los Angeles. There is a question over whether he would be
eligible for next spring's draft or in 2010, but he's already being
projected as a top-five pick.
So why not for the Warriors?
Contact Ann Killion at akillion@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5805.