Ricky Rubio man crush update

Brandon Jennings has earned a lot of hype coming out of the gate. ESPN has him ranked as the top rookie of the season so far and justifiably so: the Compton native is averaging an impressive 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists through five games in his NBA career.

I’m not sure anybody saw this coming.

Throughout last year’s NBA Draft process, Jennings was probably the biggest enigma. Once considered the top player in his graduating year, Jennings spent a highly publicized season in Italy playing Euroleague basketball instead of going the traditional one-and-done route at an NCAA institution.

In light of the Bucks rookie’s explosive performance out of the gate, many basketball heads are now wondering aloud if more talented teens will opt for the Euroleague route on their path to the NBA. This is a valid question, and certainly it will be interesting to see if Jennings ends up being a trailblazer or an outlier. I however am wondering aloud if this tells us anything about how Ricky Rubio will fit in the NBA.

If Jennings, a 20 year-old who struggled mightily and was relatively inconsequential to his actual team performance in Europe is able to make his presence felt on an NBA court — what does (if anything) that project for the moppy haired FC Barcelona star?

Rubio not just plays, but is often the best player on the court for an elite team in the Spanich ACB. Watching Rubio (and his awesome uniform) weave his way around grown men, picking up on-ball steals, finding all cutters and splitting double teams, one cannot help but be intoxicated by his NBA potential.

Jennings’ main weapon is his speed, but there are plenty of athletic speedsters in the league. What has set him apart is his composure at the one-guard spot and progressive basketball acumen; both traits attributable to his Eurotrip. Obviously this is comparing apples to oranges, but it’s hard not to play that game concerning players with talent and potential as tantalizing as Jennings and Rubio, especially when they play the same position.

We will likely have to wait another 2-3 years before Rubio ever sets foot on an NBA court. But if Brandon Jennings is any indication, the wait should be more than worth it.