Ricky Rubio's Stunning Impact Makes Him Most Valuable Member of Rookie Class

The 2012 NBA season hasn't been filled with the best rookie class of all-time, but fans have been blessed to watch the performance of a pair of future All-Star point guards in the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio.

Both are off to great starts to their careers, and both will be future All-Stars. While Irving's praises have been sung over and over again—and deservedly so—right now it's Rubio's play that has him as the most valuable member of the rookie class.

This isn't a comparison of the two outstanding rookies, it's simply making a case.

For one, he's the most exciting rookie of the class to watch. Fans have been waiting for him to arrive for a couple of years, and now that he has, Rubio's been worth the wait.

Since Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman has inserted Rubio into the starting lineup, his numbers have been great. As a starter, Rubio's averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

Rubio is a dynamic playmaker who makes others around him better. He's got the knack for getting teammates the ball in a position where they can have the greatest amount success.

He's the rare pass-first guard who can make highlights dishing the ball instead of scoring it.

What Rubio has done on a nightly basis is silence his critics. He's electrifying and shows nightly exactly how good he can be.

Did I mention that he's only 21 years old? Imagine what he will be like at age 25.

He leads the NBA in steals and is third in the league in assists.

Even as a rookie, he's garnered a bit of the leadership role, and Adelman has shown confidence in Rubio since day one, giving him major fourth-quarter minutes since the beginning of the season.

His jump shot still has a ways to go, but Rubio has come to the NBA with his game already at a high level.

Since that time, Rubio's only gotten better.

He's the most impressive rookie of this year's class. What seals the deal is that Rubio just isn't among the best rookie point guards—he's already among the best point guards in the NBA as a whole.