Rarely in NBA history has there been a prospect with the sort of hype and circuitous path to the NBA that Ricky Rubio has had. Selected with the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, it took Rubio two years to make it to America, and more specifically Minnesota. But after his flashy debut on Monday, it's safe to say most Timberwolves fans have already concluded that Rubio was worth the way.
The 21-year-old Spanish point guard played 26 minutes off the bench for Minnesota, and had six points, six assists, and five rebounds. Perhaps more impressively, Rubio had zero turnovers, despite playing with the sort of flair that has made him a tantalizing maverick floor general, and replaced starter Luke Ridnour in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.
The concern about Rubio's defense remains — he committed four fouls, and looked very lost on one Russell Westbrook and-one late in the game — but Canis Hoopus is already over the moon for the Wolves' new star:
First and foremost, it has been almost 2 1/2 years since Ricky Rubio's name was called out on draft night. It was pretty cool to finally see him in uniform and it was even cooler to see him perform just like we thought he would: amazing court vision, peerless passing, tremendous ball security, and risk-taking defense. He is everything we'd thought he'd be and that's something to be excited about.
For more on Rubio and the Timberwolves, visit Canis Hoopus.