The NBA might be more physically intimidating in the paint. But I believe the Euro rules allow handchecking and contact way more than NBA rules. So I doubt it will affect Rubio on offense so much as him on defense. He might rack up a lot of fouls early. He might have more physical contact finishing near the basket, but he will be much more free to move where he wants on the perimeter.
Bee Exlusive Interview With Ricky Rubio
- Thread starter Crackerman
- Start date
bajaden
Hall of Famer
So let me get this straight. Rubio who has been playing professional basketball since he was 14 or 15 years old with men twice his age is some cases is to young and immature to play in the NBA. But Jennings, Flynn, Holiday and other 18 and 19 years olds are just fine. OK, I get it now.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
The NBA might be more intimidating in the paint, but only because the players are more intimidating. But they do have a 3 second rule in the NBA. In europe they can live in the paint making it more difficult to get inside and distribute.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
If everyone wants a safe choice, where you know exactly what your getting, then draft Johnny Flynn. No surprises there. Just a solid basketball player that might even turn out to be a great basketball player. But failure is unlikely. But if were going to take a risk. Then we should draft Rubio. Yes, there's a chance of failure on several levels. All of which have been discussed on this fourm. So there is risk. But, if he turns out to be as advertised, the risk is certainly worth taking.
If you want to put people back in the seats of ARCO, then draft this kid. He has charisma, and an exciting game. He will make the Kings entertaining again, and aside from wanting to win. If you can't win, you at least want to be entertained. He would bring personality back to the Kings. He has that Chris Webber smile. My point is, that this kid could be the whole package. He could end up being our Chris Paul. Thats a gamble that worth taking.
Here's a little something from a president of a by gone age. Teddy Roosevelt.
"Thrice happy is the nation that has a glorious history. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure. Than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much, nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat"
If you want to put people back in the seats of ARCO, then draft this kid. He has charisma, and an exciting game. He will make the Kings entertaining again, and aside from wanting to win. If you can't win, you at least want to be entertained. He would bring personality back to the Kings. He has that Chris Webber smile. My point is, that this kid could be the whole package. He could end up being our Chris Paul. Thats a gamble that worth taking.
Here's a little something from a president of a by gone age. Teddy Roosevelt.
"Thrice happy is the nation that has a glorious history. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure. Than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much, nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat"
Jerryaki
Starter
we should draft rubio if he's available at #4, end of story. this will not even be an argument for our front office.
however, for those who think he's a risk, here's a silver lining: if we draft him and he's shaky and his confidence gets shot, at least we've effectively ruined him for other teams a la quincy douby. he maybe ruined but he won't go off to be a star for anyone else!
however, for those who think he's a risk, here's a silver lining: if we draft him and he's shaky and his confidence gets shot, at least we've effectively ruined him for other teams a la quincy douby. he maybe ruined but he won't go off to be a star for anyone else!
Kings Faithful
Starter
The most important things I garnered from these interviews are this...
"the Kings are a good team"
and
"the NBA is hard to follow" in Spain...
What does this all mean? He has no clue how bad the Kings actually are!
"the Kings are a good team"
and
"the NBA is hard to follow" in Spain...
What does this all mean? He has no clue how bad the Kings actually are!
Section 101
All-Star
Everytime I look at him I think the dude's got some long *** arms. There are already reports that hes's closer to 6'5". My money is on him growning another inch or two at which point he will be the closet thing to Magic johnson (who had no jump shot out of college).
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Actually, I don't think Magic ever did develop a jump shot. It was more of a set shot. You can add Jason Kidd to that group also.
K
KingsFanAZ
Guest
Maybe they only play 2001-2002 season re-runs in spain. I kid.
Seanathon81
Prospect
I just dont get it
First off I'd like to say hello to everyone on this site. I've been lurking on this site since during the 2000 season because it has always been a great place to get up to date news on the Kings and a means to gauge what other kings fans feel about things going on having to do with the Kings organization. I've read so many of the posts on this site that I feel like I know so many of your personalities without ever having had any correspondence between any of you and I.
That being said I'm finding it difficult to understand how so many are so high on Ricky Rubio. Don't get me wrong I think he is a good player in a slightly weak draft. Many site how he played against team USA in the Olympics but I cannot remember one memorable thing he did in those two games. He is not quick, so I say to myself, "he must have a jumper" nope his weakness is his shooting combined with not being quick. OK so he must be amazing at taking care of the ball right? Not the case either according to his stats he is slightly turnover prone. People are comparing him to Steve Nash except people forget Steve Nash is infinitely quicker than him with a deadly jumper. People compare him to Maravich except Maravich averaged 40+ ppg in college and scoring 60+ games as a pro. Maybe this is why I'm not a GM for any sports franchise. Because when I see a guy who is slow, can't shoot, not a scorer, slightly turnover prone but great in transition and great defensively (which remains to be seen when hand checking becomes an issue in the NBA and guys are quicker than what he he played game in and out in the Euro leagues) I think decent steady pg fringe starter or back up pg not superstar potential.
First off I'd like to say hello to everyone on this site. I've been lurking on this site since during the 2000 season because it has always been a great place to get up to date news on the Kings and a means to gauge what other kings fans feel about things going on having to do with the Kings organization. I've read so many of the posts on this site that I feel like I know so many of your personalities without ever having had any correspondence between any of you and I.
That being said I'm finding it difficult to understand how so many are so high on Ricky Rubio. Don't get me wrong I think he is a good player in a slightly weak draft. Many site how he played against team USA in the Olympics but I cannot remember one memorable thing he did in those two games. He is not quick, so I say to myself, "he must have a jumper" nope his weakness is his shooting combined with not being quick. OK so he must be amazing at taking care of the ball right? Not the case either according to his stats he is slightly turnover prone. People are comparing him to Steve Nash except people forget Steve Nash is infinitely quicker than him with a deadly jumper. People compare him to Maravich except Maravich averaged 40+ ppg in college and scoring 60+ games as a pro. Maybe this is why I'm not a GM for any sports franchise. Because when I see a guy who is slow, can't shoot, not a scorer, slightly turnover prone but great in transition and great defensively (which remains to be seen when hand checking becomes an issue in the NBA and guys are quicker than what he he played game in and out in the Euro leagues) I think decent steady pg fringe starter or back up pg not superstar potential.
Since you're not recalling much about him from the Olympics, I'll re-post a Dwyane Wade quote from then.
Maybe he was quicker than you remembered?
Also, recall that Nash kind of sucked when he was getting started. If Rubio's going to live up to that sort of comparison, it's going to take a while. We're talking about a promising project, not next year's answer to all our problems.
PurpleHaze
All-Star
Don't forget that Ricky Rubio led Spain to the Silver Metal in Beijing and had outstanding performances leading up to the Gold Metal game. Unfortunately, in that final game he injured his hand early and was not as affective as he'd been throughout the entire tournament. He later had to have surgery as a result of the injury. D-Wade, Kobe and others on Team USA saw him during many games last summer (including pre-Olympic qualifying) and were very impressed with the kid.
fxhsurjono
G-League
dam im so excited, i really hope we get rubio. dudes my age.
Jerryaki
Starter
answer: our current starting PG is beno udrih.
PurpleHaze
All-Star
Agreed. Rubio is not "slow," in fact, most observers say he takes ball up court with excellent speed, dribbling with either hand effortlessly, has long strides at 6'4" and always looks to pass the ball ahead quickly whenever possible. His game really flourishes in transition as he see the entire court masterfully to break down any D with the best of them. His quickness might be a slight handicap but he has an excellent wing-span, and looks for small angles to give him the best advantage on offense and defense - not unlike a Larry Bird (3 time NBA MVP) or Steve Nash (2 time NBA MVP) who constantly faced the stereotype as being soooo slow.
Seanathon81
Prospect
I suppose I should clarify my use of the word "slow". When I say "slow" I don't mean slow as far as human beings on the earth. Or for the C, pf, sf position but by NBA standards as PG. Rubio's quickness is definitely not his strongest point. Now he is listed at 6'4"-6'5" which is a plus making him a tall pg. 6'4" PG's with post up skills ala Gary Payton (also whom i'd consider not fast) or Sam Cassel (definitely slow) i'm definitely all for except Rubio isn't a post up guard. He is a big guard, definitely not quick who can't shoot nor create his own shot. Now it's hard to gauge the intangables such as floor leadership (how he'll make Thompson, Hawes better etc..) that can't be readily identified until after we draft him if he is available. My point is this and it is not that I am anti-rubio. Also maybe it's how terrible the kings suck harder last year than ever before combined with having to endure watching the Lakers win another title. I want this to work but i'm not finding the confort in drafting Rubio over say Flynn, Jennings, Holiday that many of you are if he drops to #4.
Vlade4GM
All-Star
I don't see him as any slower or less quick than Nash (He's at least Nash athletically, probably moreso), he's got pretty good speed in the open court. Sure he's not a burner or very explosive with his first step, no one is going to say that speed/quickness is his "strength," but to call him slow is an exaggeration IMO. He's got at least average speed/quickness for his position.
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First, welcome to Kingsfans. It's always great to see someone who has lurked for a long time finally take the big step and register and post...
Now, about the Pistol Pete comparison. It's not about the statistics. At least not in my case and I'm old enough to have seen Maravich play. It's about an excitement, an electricity, a love of the game that is so obvious that it transcends TV and grabs you by the throat. Rubio has that.
The upside of Ricky Rubio is he could spark our team, our fanbase and our city back to life within a few games.
You do not get a chance very often to draft a player with that kind of potential. If/when you do, you don't pass it up...
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I would like to add that he's similar in appearace to Maravich and his ball handling has the same flair. No one would ever accuse him of being the offensive player that Maravich was, but he has the same kind of charisma. His ball handling, court vision and basketball IQ rank right up there at the top. He's just as quick as players like Timmy Hardaway, Marc Jackson, Steve Nash or even John Stockton. I believe that Stockton and Jackson rank number 1 and 2 in total assists in the history of the NBA.
Some people just have a special gift. And you can't judge it by seeing how high they can jump or how fast they can run. Their just special. Rubio appears to be one of those people. The sum of the parts may not look that way, but then, they didn't with Joe Montana either.
ParniValjak
All-Star
Our chances of getting Rubio are the same as they were about a month ago....a long shot!
IMHO, he will be gone by the 4th pick and knowing our history, we won't trade up. Last time we had this my hype on these boards it was about getting the #1 pick and we all know how that ended.
Now we are hoping that we get Rubio. I can't help but feel this board will go into a meltdown when we end up with someone else other than Rubio.
Aenadin
Starter
i read in hoopsworld (take it for what its worth) that Grizz will take rubio IF they like him.. and that they didnt have a 10 hour plane ride to spain for nothing..
big deal! geoff spent like MORE than that
im going to laugh to the high heavens if rubio doesnt sign with grizz and the team he gets traded to and returns to euro for a bigger contract
big deal! geoff spent like MORE than that
im going to laugh to the high heavens if rubio doesnt sign with grizz and the team he gets traded to and returns to euro for a bigger contract
CaminoChaos
Bench
One thing I like to comment on is a lot of people are saying he can't shoot. That may be the case but we have to remember that he is only 18 years old and is going to be around a long time. In that time he can develope a nice jump shot. In theory I've heard that good free throw shooters turn into good shooters. If you look at the this years stats that holds true for all the elite shooters in the league. With that said Rubio shoots around 80% from the line which is decent and I can live with a decent shooter that is only 18 years old and will have 15 years to develope his shot.
KingKong
Starter
Seanathon81
Prospect
Agreed, Chances seem to be increasing that he will drop to #4. So here is to hoping those of you whom are high on Rubio are seeing something I'm not if he is available. Ultimately if he puts butts back in the seats at Arco with exciting plays then i'm all for it.
Things to get very excited about with Rubio is that he is only 18 and his basketball IQ is already very high. And Petrie has commented favorably on his leadership skills. Smart players don't need blinding quickness, they just need to get to places on the court where they can put the defense in vulnerable position. Rubio can do that with the best of them.
And also remember this, the fastest player in the NBA is not faster than a well placed pass. Put him in an offense with direction from coachie and Westphal... you will have lots to smile at watching the Kings play. Think back how much Doug Christie used to hit Peja open near the basket for a layup and multiply that for every player on the Kings smart enough to move without the ball. Throw in an uptempo game and you might be very surprised how fast things will change.
The real value in Rubio is that he will make everyone on his team get easier baskets.
And also remember this, the fastest player in the NBA is not faster than a well placed pass. Put him in an offense with direction from coachie and Westphal... you will have lots to smile at watching the Kings play. Think back how much Doug Christie used to hit Peja open near the basket for a layup and multiply that for every player on the Kings smart enough to move without the ball. Throw in an uptempo game and you might be very surprised how fast things will change.
The real value in Rubio is that he will make everyone on his team get easier baskets.
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