ESP – No more distractions for Rubio ahead of EuroBasket
BARCELONA (EuroBasket 2009) - Ricky Rubio breathed an enormous sigh of relief after clinching his move to Barcelona this week on a six-year contract. The 18-year-old DKV Joventut product shot to fame in Badalona but after failing to secure his release from the club in order to move to the Minnesota Timberwolves - the team that selected him fifth overall ...
BARCELONA (EuroBasket 2009) - Ricky Rubio breathed an enormous sigh of relief after clinching his move to Barcelona this week on a six-year contract.
The 18-year-old DKV Joventut product shot to fame in Badalona but after failing to secure his release from the club in order to move to the Minnesota Timberwolves - the team that selected him fifth overall in the NBA Draft – he decided to leave his long-time team.
Rubio wanted to leave and was able to join Barcelona for a Liga ACB transfer record 3.5million euros.
"It has taken a long time but in the end, I have arrived to a great team, from a Spanish standard to a European one and now I am going to enjoy it," said Rubio, who has an escape clause that allows him to leave early for the NBA.
"When the season ended I put my name in the draft with the intention of going to the NBA,” Rubio said.
"Many things happened and I wasn´t able to finish at the top. I was fifth, which I am happy about, but that didn´t give me the opportunity to go to the NBA.
"I tried until the end but it was not to be. Now I have arrived at a club where I hope to win many titles."
Rubio says he has now has no distractions heading into the EuroBasket, where Spain will go after a top-six finish to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Spain are among the favorites to win a gold medal.
"I am happy that this is over before the EuroBasket," he said. "(National team coach) Sergio Scariolo spoke to me and gave me support, just as my teammates did because they saw me worried and the truth is that I was.
"It´s a great enthusiasm to know that you can go to the NBA but my thoughts are on Regal Barca and giving it my all.
"I would have preferred to have left Joventut with better relations than what it has been."
When asked what it meant to be the most expensive signing in the ACB history, Rubio replied: "I wouldn´t value myself for such a high amount but if they have put their money on me, that must be that they trust me and I will prove what I can do on the court."
FIBA