Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:40 am EDT

YouTube of the Day: Ricky Rubio freezes Lithuania

By J.E. Skeets

For those of you still not familiar with the basketball action on the other side of the pond, Ricky Rubio is a 17-year-old Spanish point guard who plays for Joventut Badalona in the ACB and Euroleague. He's considered by some to be the best non-NBA player in the world (sorry, Josh), and is already drawing comparisons to Pistol Pete and Magic Johnson. Exhibit G:

So, is Rubio the NBA's future or just Jason Williams 2.0? It's probably still too early to tell, but to have pulled this move off against an elite international team like Lithuania — at the age of 17! — is pretty impressive. I think I was still playing with POGs at 17.

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367 Comments

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  1. epal k
    1. Posted by epal k Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    nice move..first
  2. Andy J
    2. Posted by Andy J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    No
    He probably wont kill a limo driver
  3. Jacob S
    3. Posted by Jacob S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Nice move but Manu does moves like that every other game.
  4. They Hate Me
    4. Posted by They Hate Me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Manu is not 17... I think Rubio might end up never playing for the NBA. We have seen what kinds of money he could make in Europe. And the NBA has an ugly record with Spanish guards... Navarro gave up ALOT of money just to high tail it back to Spain after 1 year. Sergio Rodriguez is in some kind of dog house that he will probably never get out of.
  5. mark i
    5. Posted by mark i Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

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    Manu has never done a behind the back in traffic that slick. Don't kid youself. And Manu, as noted, is not 17.
  6. curtis
    6. Posted by curtis Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    I would like to see exhibits A-F, please. That play was sick.
  7. Jaceman
    7. Posted by Jaceman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    Impressive, we'll see if he goes the route of Navarro or if his game translates well and becomes more like a Calderon.
  8. David
    8. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    wow, he dribbled it behind his back with one hand
  9. CJ M
    9. Posted by CJ M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    dude is SICK
  10. B.How
    10. Posted by B.How Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    WTF was that?!! That kid's got some crazy moves. Im sorry but Manu isn't doing anything like that
  11. Moises C
    11. Posted by Moises C Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    @ Arian R: jorge garbajosa?
  12. Mask Marval
    12. Posted by Mask Marval Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    He almost stole my move..lol only diffrence is I only go partial around the back then between the legs and hopefully some one is open or I gota cut to the basket but the defender is always off balance and usally hacks..but dude is sick
  13. tyler
    13. Posted by tyler Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    You'll see that move on AND 1 basketball daily! Watch the mixtapes!
  14. Mash
    14. Posted by Mash Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    @ Andy J. The Jayson Williams (notice the "y") that you're referring to is the African American former New Jersey Nets F/C.
    The Jason Williams Skeets is referring to is the Caucasian point guard with the sick handle that has been with the Kings, Grizzlies, and Heat.
  15. joe blow
    15. Posted by joe blow Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    come on, I saw better defense than that in Highschool and college, where I did pull stuff like that (and often got benched for it by disciplinary coaches).
    That was slow and not that impressive.
    Though, if this kid is only 17 THAT IS impressive. But I doubt he could remotely get away with that even in American college games.
    Let's see how he progresses because some players never get better than they were at 18 if they were precocious.
    I;m holding my breath on this guy.
  16. J
    16. Posted by J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    This dude is krayzzz. i watched him before. he would match up with chris paul well.... embarrass most of the guards in the league. could get better in finishing with drives but a definite leader. should stay in europe.
    American basketball are for fools. everyone just care about their images. goes out get all the tattoos they can fill their body with. No class basketball. Look at jordan, did he had to go get all those stupid tattoos to say he is great? what about bill russell, will chamberlain, magic johnson???? this new age of basketball players coming in just show no grace and respect.... So sad
  17. IQUIT
    17. Posted by IQUIT Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Once you play in the League, guys get used to your game, he wouldn't be able to get away with stuff like that in the NBA. I don't think he would make it...look at Rafer Alston..aka. skip 2my lOu....how long it took him
  18. that nigga
    18. Posted by that nigga Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    thats was tight!!i heard of dude when i was in spain and he was like 14 years old!!he can come to the NBA whenever he wants and be an inpact player!!people better get up on the ueropean ball cos some of them dude is sick wit it!!
  19. e
    19. Posted by e Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    don't know if you noticed that the behind the back dribble was actually a fake hehind the back pass that threw off the 1st defender!
  20. Truman
    20. Posted by Truman Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

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    this kid is awesome.. he is extremely creative.. has amazing anticipation, eyes in the back of his head, a decent first step, and he rarely kills his dribble.. this guy will be in the nba.. if he wants to. and i assure you his second nba contract will be nothing to sneeze at. oh yeah.. and hes not physically finished developing.. imagine if he had the benefit of nba strength trainers and wasnt taking classes all day..
  21. Hube aka Short
    21. Posted by Hube aka Short Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    Jwiill do sa dame thing at da same age cmon people only bcause a spanish guy make fancy plays...cmon
  22. pepi t
    22. Posted by pepi t Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    Yeah, Jwill can make hings like this. But you will not see Jwill defending like Rubio does, never.
  23. Louie
    23. Posted by Louie Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    I hope he's w/ their national olympic team so we can see how he goes against cp3.
  24. DevinL
    24. Posted by DevinL Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Um, WTF? He could beat that guy with the flapping arm with just one more dribble. Nothing special here.
  25. Trevor
    25. Posted by Trevor Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:02 pm EDT

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    Give credit to the kid...he's just a kid who dares to show his freedom to do anything in the court... will he make it to the NBA? maybe, maybe not...still the kid got something and that's very fascinating.

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