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Ricky Rubio ’bigger and better’ than Pete Maravich?

08.17.2008 - Updated on 08.17.2008

As much as anything, it is the floppy hair and long, scrawny body that rushes everyone back to Pistol Pete. His game is bigger and better, shorter on scoring ability and longer on leadership and defense. That’s the thing that stays with everyone: the innateness of his defense. Some dare dismiss him as style over substance, but those aren’t the people who’ve watched him closest.

“He’s an exceptional talent who’s doing and playing at a level over and above his age,” Moscow Dynamo coach David Blatt said. “I would say that Ricky looks more like Pistol than he plays like him. Maybe the biggest thing about him is his ability to change a game on defense, just wreak havoc on an opponent’s offense. But he doesn’t do it in a conventional way. He’ll let you go by him and run behind you and steal the ball. He roams all over the place, creating chaos and making things happen out of nowhere.”

Yahoo! Sports

Isn’t this getting a little silly now? After years of hype, Ricky Rubio is, at the ripe old age of seventeen, being compared favourably with one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. So, is there something we don’t know? Is there a good reason people are getting so excited about the talented Spaniard? Or is this just another case of excessive expectations? Let us know what you think in the comment section.

6 Comments: Ricky Rubio ’bigger and better’ than Pete Maravich?

Posted by
hoosier
on 08.24.2008

Rubio has very good court sense. A rare pa-------first shoot second pointguard. Doesnt force situations, and he’s so graceful he can make one simple pa-------look like the best you’ve ever seen in years. He’s a pesky defender. He has to improve shooting. Something he has to work when he gets to the nba.. Most people compare him to pistol because of his size, but reminds me more of Toni Kukoc, only smaller. Toni also was a well heralded international player at 17. Was over 20 when he was part of the Croatia team that went runner up to the 1992 US "Dream Team".. The best in Europe after the late Drazen Petrovic. But when he came to the nba at age 25, he didnt become half of how big he was in Europe. He won championships with the bulls alongside jordan. But he despised winning the 6th man award. This would be the real test for rubio. Will he be showing the same passion,enthusiasm even when he wont the main man. So we’ll see. .

Posted by
Nik to di tyme
on 08.18.2008

Apparently this guy deserves some attention . I just hope is not another joke such as bogut or kwame brown . .

Posted by

on 08.17.2008

He is good for his age but by the time he gets to his early 20s he’ll be average..hasn’t got the muscle.Plus starting at 17 means playing against big guys when u’re still as fragile as anything an injury could destroy his career..he’s ok but defenitely not pisto pete.. .

Posted by
that one guy
on 08.17.2008

oooooooovvvvvvvverrrrrrrrraaaaaaattttttteeeeeeeeeededddddddd .

Posted by
Hurricaneone
on 08.17.2008

Yes he looks like Pete Maravich and no question has a great deal of talent but has not been fully unleashed for the World to see yet atleast not in the Olympics. But you have to understand that being 17 he was also trying to not show up his countrymen and deferring to them in a lot of instances. He is a role player on this team but should he be turned lose in the future like say a Steve Nash then he could live up to that comparison some day. Right now he is more like a Shaun Livingston good but unproven. In the future Pistol Pete or Steve Nash? Could be but this much is true we all enjoy watching that kid play hoops! .

Posted by

on 08.17.2008

If it was an american player it wouldn’t be too much hype. He’d be the next big thing but because he’s spanish how dare they compare him to pete maravich. .

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