Ricky Rubio finally freed

REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - If it looks like Ricky Rubio is moving free as a bird on the courts of the NBA it is because the Spanish rookie is exactly that – finally free.

It is hard to believe that Rubio is still only 21 years as he seems to have been around for ages already. Rubio, who doesn’t turn 22 until October, burst onto the international scene back at the U16 European Championship in 2006 with an amazing performance of 51 points, 24 rebounds, 13 assists and 7 steals, not to mention the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer in the final.

Rubio, who debuted in the Spanish ACB at 14 years of age, began to leave his mark in the Euroleague and ACB with the talent-building club DKV Joventut, including averaging 9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in the Euroleague as a 16-year-old. And by the summer of 2008 Rubio had made his way into the Spanish senior side for the Beijing Olympics, where he proved he could hold his own as a 17-year-old.

A crucial step came in the summer of 2009 when he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth overall pick of the NBA Draft and then decided to stay in Europe and moved from Joventut to Barcelona.

Rubio came into the 2010-11 season having won the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year three straight years from 2007 to 2009 and then collecting the 2010 Euroleague Rising Star honor. But while moving to the more prestigious club promised more titles for Rubio, it actually dented his production numbers and his playing time on a Barcelona team stacked with superstars with a long rotation.

Rubio also ran into the same problem at the Spanish national team, where he was the third guard option after Jose Calderon and Juan Carlos Navarro while also fighting off Sergio Llull. Rubio became essentially a back-up point guard to play some tough defense here and there.

Over the course of two sup-bar seasons with Barcelona numbers-wise, criticism of Rubio back in the United States grew more and more. And the 20-year-old was considered a bust after averaging just 1.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists at EuroBasket 2011.

While watching Rubio in Lithuania, one couldn’t help but feel he sensed pressure or was not allowed to play the game of basketball how he can – namely running the show and getting teammates involved.

Rubio could hardly wait for the NBA lockout to finally end so that he could make his move to the open style of the U.S. game. And Rubio has absolutely flourished, which has led many an expert in the U.S. to rescind their criticism and apologize.

But Rubio’s performance thus far for Minnesota – 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.3 steals in 32 minutes – is not a surprise whatsoever. It is exactly what Eye on the Future expected once he was freed to play in the open court. Rubio has always been known for his tremendous knack for passing the ball – which provides plenty of oohs and aahs, not to mention youtube highlights – but he can also drive to the basket after blowing past his man. And it was clear that he would excel once he was given the reins to the hotrod.

The only surprise thus far about Rubio’s performance as a rookie has been his outside shooting.

Rubio clearly worked very hard on his outside shot, knowing NBA defenses would give him room to shoot with the early book on him that he has no shot from long range. But Rubio has absolutely punished defenses for leaving him on defensive switches or giving his space to the tune of 40.7 percent on three-pointers – 11 of 27 – after 13 games.

Armed with that weapon as well as his previously in place arsenal, the freed Rubio is clearly the front runner for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

And the world is finally seeing why Minnesota never wavered in their trust in Rubio – especially since there was never reason to do so.

With these two videos, it's hard to believe his struggles in 2011 and how many people began to doubt him:

Assist compilation from 2009/2010 ACB season



The best from Rubio's first few games in the NBA; more to come?



David Hein

FIBA

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