Ricky Rubio: Worth The Hype

(Above: The kid ain't prayin'.)

He's 18 and he can break your ankles.

Hell, he can break Jason Kidd's ankles.

With Euro-contracts and draft demands aside, we're left to wonder through all the ruckus that is the NBA Draft; is this kid worth all this damn attention?

Well, that all depends.

Are you interested in having a blend of Steve Nash, Pete Maravich, and Jason Kidd on your favorite NBA team?

I should rephrase that.

If you're a fan of the Clippers, Grizzlies, Thunder, or Kings...is he worth the attention?

Hell yes.

But I'm not one to throw a promise in a crowd's face without first laying out the foundation of my lofty expectations.

Pro's

It's very possible we haven't seen someone move with the ball like this kid does since "Pistol" Pete Maravich.

He's incredibly gifted in both full-court and half-court sets, and has limitless vision and awareness. Like any other young point guard, he makes stupid mistakes and get tricked into bad passes and sketchy shot selections.

However, he's so confident and experienced, that he doesn't let it get to his head. He's an extremely smart player who picks and chooses his spots very well. He reads defenses as if he's been doing this for a 10-year career.

Despite his frail frame, he plays with a controlled recklessness—winding and weaving his body and the ball around defenders, getting to the rim and finishing with ease.

If it's not a dramatic lay-up that dazzles the crowd, it's the "this is way too easy for me" one-handed dunk.

Simply put, the kid is special. The stats and percentages aren't there yet, but they rarely are when you're hyping a guy up on pure potential. And considering the fact that he's only 18, has been playing professionally in Europe, and he's only going to get better, potential is music to the NBA's ears.

Con's

He's not necessarily weak, but he does have a tiny frame, despite having good height for the position (6'3'').

Rubio has a decent shot and a quick release, but it's way too inconsistent. Considering it's definitely his second offensive option as of right now, this is a huge weakness as far as his ability to make an immediate impact at the next level.

On that same note, his confidence level is so high, it probably won't matter. While he has good quickness and athleticism, he won't be able to blow by NBA guards as easily as he did in Europe.

He had a good showing in the Olympic finale, but he wasn't amazing, either. He clearly has a lot of work to do on his decision-making as far as being an NBA-ready point guard.

Despite having countless highlight-reel passes and drives, he can at times try to be too flashy. He needs to realize sooner or later that the big bright lights are so everyone can see the game, and not just him. He may have an attitude problem, as well as too much leverage for certain NBA teams to keep him in check.

He loves the Euro game, and thrives in it. If the NBA isn't exactly what he dreams it to be, he could hop, skip, and leave in the blink of an eye. For an NBA GM, that could be very scary.

Still, after looking at both sides of the argument, it's hard to come away not wanting to see more of Rubio.

After seeing him as an 180-pound, 18-year old in the Olympic Gold Medal game, competing at a high level, it's clear he can play in the league.

The question is, can he keep progressing? Can he refine his shot, cool his attitude, and wisen up with the ball in his hands?

Yeah, he can.

But, like any other highly-touted prospect, there's always that, "wait and see" approach. And considering his age, that's quite likely going to be exactly what everyone will be doing—waiting.

I, for one, will do so willingly.