Ricky Rubio: 3 Early Signs Timberwolves NBA Rookie Is Going to Be a Star

There were a lot of questions as to whether Ricky Rubio could translate his game to an NBA game. There were a ton of questions about whether his flamboyant passing style could succeed at the NBA level. 

It's still early in the season, but the early returns are promising. Rubio has done enough to impress and show the promise of a star in development. 

While he's been a pro in Europe for the last six years, he's still a very young player. Rubio started playing when he was 14. 

Through his first five NBA games, he shows that the hype was not unwarranted. He's answered some key questions and looks to be a part of the next Timberwolves' playoff-caliber team for the near future. 

He Can Score

One of the big questions surrounding Rubio has been whether or not he can score.

He was never much of a shooter in Spain, and that didn't bode well for an NBA career. 

However, Rubio has been surprisingly successful and has shown if you give him the shot, he'll take it.

Through his first five games as a pro, he's averaging 11.7 points per 36 minutes. 

Granted, those aren't Derrick Rose numbers, but they are Rajon Rondo numbers. Rubio probably will never be a scoring champion, but he will be good enough to make sure you have to guard him.

Scoring was never going to be the hallmark of his game, but he's shown it won't be his Achilles heel, either. 

He Can Pass

What is the hallmark of his game is his passing.

Through the first five games, Rubio has consistently made some spectacular passes and shown a court vision on par with Steve Nash. 

There never seems to be an open man on the floor that Rubio is unaware of.

His 8.2 assists per 36 minutes is actually misleadingly low. Some of his passes are so brilliant that his teammates don't expect them. Other times they have just missed easy shots. 

Once he moves into starter minutes, which he inevitably will, Rubio has the ability to post double-digit assists on a consistent basis, especially if he's passing to Derrick Williams and Kevin Love on a regular basis.

In two or three years, he could be the league leader in assists per game. 

He Can Lead

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Rubio is that his best two games have come against the two teams that squared off in the Finals last year—the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. 

Against he former, he led the 'Wolves to victory. Against the latter, he came just shy, as the Heat needed a last-second shot from Dwyane Wade to pull out. 

In those two games, Rubio has combined for 26 points, 10 rebounds and 19 assists in just 59 minutes. The Timberwolves were a plus-20 with Rubio on the court in those two games. 

The real stars in the league lead by being their best against the best, and the early signs are that Rubio is very much in that line of play. 

Rubio is a star in the making. He's showing early on that the 'Wolves were right to not give up on him.