The Spanish point guard with hazelnut eyes to die for opted to stay in Spain instead of playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves after he was drafted 5th overall pick by the squad in last June's lottery.
Two days after the Timberwolves and Rubio’s camp (agents and former Spanish team DKV Joventut) agreed "in principle" on a deal bringing the 18-year-old spitfire in the NBA, Rubio ran away from the biggest stage in basketball.
“The reason leading me to take this next step is to have a period of preparation to better take the challenge of the NBA in better conditions as a player,” Rubio was quoted in an article posted on Yahoo Sports.
“The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future," Rubio added.
Rubio told Timberwolves President David Kahn the same thing. Khan was obviously disappointed by the development, if you can call it a development on Timberwolves' part, as he made three trips to Spain to help seal the mothballed deal.
“It appears now we will have a two-year wait. But if you frame it as he’ll be 20 years old and he’ll have two more years to develop, I can think of a lot worse things to happen to us as a franchise,” Kahn was quoted saying.
After the falling out, DKV Joventut reluctantly agreed to trade Rubio to its rival squad Regal FC Barcelona, which will shell out $5.3 million to buy out Rubio's pricey contract.
According to Kahn, Rubio's cold feet was due to the pressure he and his family have been getting from the Spanish national team, Spanish media and other people in their hometown. Rubio plays for Spain and was part of the silver-winning squad in the Beijing games.
“From an 18-year-old’s perspective and his family’s perspective, it was very nerve-racking,” Kahn said.
Let us just hope that his decision wil turn out for the best, and that he finds a better home in FC Barcelona. Hopefully by the time Rubio decides to join the NBA, 6th overall pick Jonny Flyn, who was also tapped by the Timberwolves, would only be as good as sharing the spot with him.
©Grace Ramos
Note: Ricky plays the point too! I love his brand of play, unselfish yet flashy (ankle-breaking crossovers, suave wrap around dribbling and sweet no-look/ ally-oop passes). And for someone who's not as hefty as most players are, I admire his mental and physical toughness. He's not afraid to get hit and to kiss the floor (so like me). We're so bagay like that! LOL!
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