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At 17, Rubio's Game Is Ahead of Schedule
"He has moxie. He's got it. You can see," U.S. Coach Mike Krzyzewski says of guard Ricky Rubio.
(By Garrett Ellwood -- Getty Images)
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"He's got all the fundamental skills. He's not a knock-down shooter, but Jason Kidd ain't either. And everybody would take him one or two in his prime, wouldn't they?"
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James were in Rubio's position as basketball prodigies. James made the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 17, and in 2004 he became the youngest player to represent the United States since NBA players were allowed to participate. Both expressed favorable opinions of Rubio in the little that they've seen of him.
"I think he's a fabulous young player," Bryant said. "I'm very impressed with him."
James said the pressure that comes with expectations at a young age can be significant, but added that Rubio seems to handle himself well: "He has a bright future," James said.
Rubio is a fan of NBA stars Kidd, Chris Paul and Steve Nash and said he recently started studying Maravich after a reporter gave Rubio video of Pistol Pete. Asked which players he tries to emulate, Rubio sounded like a polished athlete who has been doing interviews for years.
"I'm Ricky Rubio. I play like me," he said. "I only play because I like to play basketball. I don't think that I'm like other players. I'm Ricky."
Rubio then coolly walked away from a pool of reporters, shorts sagging below his calves and flip-flops flapping with each step.
"He has that air about him," U.S. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He has moxie. He's got it. You can see. It's not just confidence. It's different."
