Minnesota Timberwolves: Why Ricky Rubio Compares Favorably to Jason Kidd

Before stepping foot on an NBA court for the first time, Minnesota Timberwolves' point guard Ricky Rubio has been compared to some of the greatest players in NBA history. Names like Pete Maravich and Steve Nash are commonplace when analysts have tried to describe Rubio's game.

While each of those comparisons have their merit in individual aspects of his game, neither accounts for the complete package that Rubio has to offer. Most only know him for his long hair or his YouTube highlight reels, but there is much more to his game.

One NBA player who has showcased his ability to contribute in a number of ways is Dallas Mavericks' point guard Jason Kidd. Neither Kidd or Rubio are considered top scoring threats, but both understand that there is more to basketball than just scoring. Each of them are known for their ability to set up the offense and give their teammates the ball in the right spots.

Many times, critics will point to Rubio's shooting struggles as a reason he won't succeed in the NBA While Kidd has hit the third-most three-pointers in NBA history, he wasn't always considered a threat from long range. In his rookie season, he made just 27.2 percent of his three-point attempts for the Dallas Mavericks.

Another perceived weakness in Rubio's game is his defensive ability. Scouts question whether he will have the quickness to stay in front of the league's faster guards. If you look at Jason Kidd, he has never had elite level quickness, especially now as he nears the end of his career. However, he was still seen defending LeBron James well during the 2011 NBA Finals.

Comparing Rubio to one of the best point guards in NBA history may seem far-fetched and is probably being generous to a 20-year-old who has never played an NBA game. However, by looking at their similarities, it might not be as far-fetched as previously thought.