Why does he needs to grow to 6'6 to be an effective point guard? Your analysis doesn't make much sense other than the obvious that he needs to improve. Well duh. He's currently 6'4, the same height as Deron Williams, a bit taller than Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Tony Parker. How can you say he will NEVER be a Steve Nash or John Stockton. You know Steve Nash didn't become the player he is today until he was 31 or 32 years old. The kid can flat out score, just because he didn't shoot in the Olympics doesnt mean that he cant. Did Chris Paul shoot much during the Olympics? He must have no offensive game whatsoever then right? Rubio has dropped 54 points in a single game. But that's not what was required of him in these games. Just like we didn't need Chris Paul to break people off every other play. We needed a distributor, like Spain needed in Rubio. They had Fernandez, Paul, Marc, and a host of other shooters. European and Asian cultural mindset is different. You help the elders score and shine, you just try help out and not screw up. Like Yao when he was younger with the Rockets letting Francis and Mobley do their thing until he was mature enough.
I don't think Yao 'LET' Francis and Mobley do their thing. Do you not remember how the offense was run? Iso Steve Iso Cuttino Iso Steve Iso Cuttino
I don't think that will have much of an impact. You know Dwyane Wade didn't start int he Olympics either, but I'm pretty sure we'd all take him with the #1 pick next year if he was in the draft. Drafting a player out of high school is always based more so on potential to fill a role, and I think he has all the tools to grow into a prototypical point guard. -Pass First -Swagger -Instincts -Mental Toughness -3 point shot, quick hands <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ueL9046BDxQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ueL9046BDxQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Yeah I know, I guess I was just thinking Yao was always respectful you know? He didn't say much, he wasn't vocal. He didn't COMMAND the ball like he does now. I was thinking more along the lines that Rubio doesn't command the offense because it's not his place to yet. I'm sure when hes like 25 years old in the 2016 olympics he'll be in his prime and just dropping 30 a game like Scola does for Argentina. Scary how good he can be by then.
he's easily a top 3 pick. Doug Collins even said that. I think if Rudy made the offense focal point to be Yao so early, I don't think he could have handled the pressure. JVG came in at the right time where Yao had enough NBA experience to take on that task.
Once again the PG position in the most cerebral position in the game of basketball, and for a 17 year old handling the duties for his country in a Gold Medal game, he did well against the likes of Williams and Kidd.
I know very few will agree with me on this but here it goes: He reminds me of Steve Nash. The perpetual motion/movement/dribbling combined with the out-of-this-world floor vision. His comfort zone and instincts are heavily weighted towards passing the ball instead of shooting it. He has some Maravich in him too and I don't think the Olympics gave a fair picture of his scoring ability. Remember, the guy was just a young scrub (in a physical sense) at 17 playing among seasoned grown men. I'll call Ricky Rubio a combination of Nash & Maravich with it being 2/3rds towards Nash. I'm not ready to pronounce him a definite future NBA star. Assuming he continues developing as many predict, Rubio is the kind of player who will be at or near the top of the NBA in assists and steals while scoring 13-16 points/game.
I'm not talking about his mindset. Obviously I've complemented his ability to be a point gaurd and make great decisions. First of all he is closer to 6'3 even though he was listed at 6'4. And he is only 180lbs. The reason I said it would be to his advantage to grow is so he can be a more physical point gaurd. That way he gives a team the same great deffense Jason Kidd could in his prime while being a great rebounder also. More of a triple doube guy like Magic and Kidd. He is never going to be as athletic and quick as Chris Paul. And he is never going to shoot the ball like Stockton or Nash. Yes Nash did improve his shooting over the years. But he always had a pretty shot and was still an above average shooter. And Stockton was always a good shooter. Rubio's shot needs alot of work and has mechanical problems. But it will never be a strength of his.- Basically my point. And if you think in his current status he could drop 50 points in an NBA game, you're really strugling with your analysis. He still has trouble finishing, he's not lightning quick, and doesn't even have NBA 3 point range. I still like the kid alot and feel even without improving he could be a back up or 3rd string point gaurd in the NBA right now. And if he was going to the NCAA he would average 8-10 assists a game but could not explode for 50 point games.
He's 17 and you've already drawn conclusions about the rest of his career. You know Jordan didn't have consistent 3 point range until his 4th or 5th year in the league. You develop as you go, and Rubio is already ahead of schedule. You're saying he's lacking in an area because you've got assumptions that he needs to develop into a certain player which is unfair. He needs to be quicker to be Chris Paul. He needs to be taller to be Jason Kidd. He's already taller than Kidd for one. I don't pass on Chris Paul in the draft because he wont be able to rebound, and I don't pass on Nash in the draft because he wont average a tripple double. 3rd string? You're joking right? I'd start him over Knicks: Marbury/Robinson Timberwolves: Telfair/Foye Grizzlies: Conley/Lowry Pacers: Tinsley Bucks: Ridnour Kings: Udrich All worthless starting PG's. I didn't say he'd drop 50 in a game in the NBA, I'm saying he's got an offensive game he's not getting credit for because he distributes first. You contradict liking him with your critique of every aspect of his game [cant shoot, cant finish, not fast]. He seemed quick enough when he stripped Lebron and took it end to end for the assist.
I'd be greatly surprised if anybody on this board besides me and B-bob ever actually saw Maravich play. I saw him play mostly on Saturdays when he was at LSU because I got Louisiana television in East Texas as a teenager. Once he went to the NBA we were lucky to see him 3 or 4 games a year. There wasn't even any cable back then much less a NBA channel. The kid was good OK, but Maravich was a certifiable, once in a generation basketball god. Without a doubt the best college player of all time, just jaw dropping unbelievable. When he moved up to varsity for his sophomore season he began the greatest scoring rampage in NCAA history. Over the next three seasons he averaged 43.8, 44.2, and 44.5 ppg, respectively, leading the nation in scoring each year. During his senior season he scored 50 or more points in 10 of LSU's 31 games, setting an NCAA record for most points (1,381) and highest scoring average in a single season. In 1970, he was named College Player of the Year. And averaging 40+, he's still the best passer the game as ever seen. There won't be anymore Maraviches. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n8qUZILi8IM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n8qUZILi8IM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Can you share that video with us of him shooting on an NBA 3? Right, probably because no ones ever seen him attempt and NBA 3. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MOXbOvyOQRc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MOXbOvyOQRc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> He can finish at the rack.
I have been accused by my friends of liking this guy too much and giving him too much credit. I think you're in love with him. Serious man crush. I mean boy crush. According to you Rubio is Lebron James ready as a player and point gaurd and is ready to be rookie of the year. You are basically saying he is already big enough, will be as athletic and quick as Cris Paul with time, also with time will score like Tony Parker in the paint, and will shoot as well as Steve Nash eventually with practice. You should be his agent. The reality of the matter is Jordan was and always will be a beast athletically. Even at 17 he had a 40" vertical and was really quick. Mj improved his shot over time but he also always had the ability to jump and get that shot off over anyone. Don't bring MJ in a disscusion for no reason. Just like Ricky has amazing passing and decision making ability that is way ahead of his time and can't be taught. You also cannot teach an MJ vertical, Lebron James god gifted size as a teenager, or a pretty shot like Steve Nash.
Honestly Rubio has been playing in one of Europe's most premier leagues since the age of 15 and has been on NBA radars since 13. This dude is only 17 and already a 6'3 POINT guard. Known for his distribution. Nash is unathletic but is a great distributor and shooter. This dude is 17 and plays pretty nice defense plus he has height and is not a terrible shooter. And with shooting you can always get better at that. He is a playmaker who can get his own shots up. If Calderon (Raptors) can torch the U.S. I dont see why this 17 yr old cant be great with a couple years of NBA ball under his belt
I think you are the one drawing conclusions that he is ready to start in the NBA today. I'm not saying he should be anything in particaular, I'm just giving you an opinion of what type of player I think he is going to be. I feel he is going to be more of a physical point gaurd in time, who will be a great playmaker. I think when he is fully grown, his length will be a great strength. Thats why I feel he will be a rebounding/stealing/great assist point gaurd and not a 20 plus point scorer. I still said earlier that he has the potential to be an all star and that he will be drafted #1. I just don't think he will ever have a Chris Paul like scoring avg., or shoot over 40% from 3 pt. land like Nash and Stockton. Does that mean he will never lead his team to wins or be MVP of the NBA? No Why don't you just say he is more athletic than Lebron. I also saw him miss a wide open lay up at the end of the USA game too. Big Deal, I don't think he sucks at playing basketball now either.
I'm saying he has a CHANCE to be all those great things. You said he will NEVER shoot like Nash, be as fast as Paul, as good a rebounder as Kidd. Using the word NEVER with a kid that is 17 is a bit unfair don't you think? Nash was only recruited by ONE college, Santa Clara because of a family friend. He rode the bench in Phx his first year, was boo'd his first 2 years in Dallas, and he was over the hill and couldn't even get a long term contract when he was 31. All of a sudden at age 32 he wins back to back MVP's. Saying Rubio will NEVER be as good as those players in certain aspects of his game is a bit pre-mature, is all I'm saying.
Never said he would not be as good of a rebounder as Jason Kidd. And yes, he will never shoot the ball as well as Nash even though he may become a better basketball player. And yes, he will never be as quick as Chris Paul even though he may become a better basketball player. Just because he is 17 turning 18 in a couple months does not mean you cannot quantify the cap of certain skills and athleticisms he posseses. As a senior in High School every scout knew that Lebron would improve his shot. But every scout also knew he would never shoot a basketball as well as Larry Bird.
