On Wednesday Spain introduced to the public their national team who will compete in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey later this year and began by honoring one of Europe’s brightest stars.
FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin was on hand to present Ricky Rubio with the 2009 FIBA Europe Young Men’s Player of the Year Award.
“Ricky is already a star on the senior level.” Commented Zanolin
“He has played in so many important events and won so many titles already that sometimes you forget that he is so young.”
Indeed the list of Rubio’s achievements is impressive.
Still only 19 years old he is an Olympics silver medalist, a European Champion and a Euroleague winner.
Ricky has been a starter and a proven crunch time player on all the teams he has played for.
“I´m proud to receive this award.” Commented Rubio.
“It also belongs to my teammates because last year´s gold medal at the EuroBasket helped me to receive it.
“I hope there are a lot more awards to come in the future”.
Rubio has won the FIBA Europe Young Men’s Player of the Year award for three consecutive years.
He appeared in all nine games in Spain’s EuroBasket gold medal run, averaging 23 minutes, 5.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
His 3.9 assists were the 7th best number in the tournament.
Source: www.fibaeurope.com
