Ricky Rubio's best NBA comparison

[Optms]

Ricky Rubio being compared to Pete Maravich are some of the most arrogant observations you can ever hear. Sadly you here them all the time, especially from the media.

I was wondering who most do you guys think his game most likely resembles to a player we've seen or know of?

[Promezclan]

Kidd is the best comparison in terms of style, although obviously not in level. Both are 6'4, both have extremely good court vision, both have strong defensive instincts and both are fairly mediocre shooters, but decent at spot-up threes. Rubio hasn't shown Kidd's great rebounding, though.

[Dr Positivity]

Less athletic Kidd with a tinge of Nash's pick and roll play works for me

I have no idea where the Maravich comparison comes from. It's not even remotely accurate

[Inc]

Rondo

Skinny
Long arms
Bad shooters from long range
Good court vision
Suffocating defense
Can take their man off the dribble

Only major difference is that Rondo is black and the hair

[Optms]

Less athletic Kidd with a tinge of Nash's pick and roll play works for me

I have no idea where the Maravich comparison comes from. It's not even remotely accurate

Just sneak a peak at both their hairdo. Also, they're both short and have a pale complextion, go figure. I say Rubio shaves his hair once he comes to the US.

[Promezclan]

Rondo is also a solid comparison, but Rubio doesn't have nearly his quickness and athleticism (though he does have a few inches), although I think he has potentially better court vision and shooting.

[SSUBluesman]

Take away Kidd's rebounding and athleticism and what do you have? And Rondo? LOL. Yea, maybe if Rubio was athletic and a good rebounder/defender. Maybe people should wait until they see Rubio go up against players who are more athletic than he is in a setting that punishes contact on the perimeter and doesn't allow a bunch of stiffs to sit in the lane before they start raving about how awesome a defender he is. Or they can keep overrating him and then claiming he's not overrated.

[Telfaire]

A smaller Shaun Livingston?

[Smills91]

I like the Kidd comparison in style. I think that's the 'closest' you'll come to an NBA equivalent. Rubio's his own player, but his game is MOST like Kidd IMO.

[Blasphemy]

J-Kidd for sure

[EddieJonesFan]

Kidd is the best comparison in terms of style, although obviously not in level. Both are 6'4, both have extremely good court vision, both have strong defensive instincts and both are fairly mediocre shooters, but decent at spot-up threes. Rubio hasn't shown Kidd's great rebounding, though.

Rubio is a good rebounder though. Post-microfracture Kidd except not quite as strong. Rubio really needs to improve his strength, it'll make up for a lot of his weaknesses.

[Optms]

I'm surprised none of you have mentioned Nash yet. The very first ever film footage of his play overseas I saw, I was expecting him to resemble "pistol" petes game since that was all I heard on TV at the time about him but this was quite awhile ago and not at all what I saw and know now. I haven't seen much of his play at all compared to other players in this draft like most of you I'm assuming however.

That first minute of watching him, Steve Nash's passing game jumped out. Mostly the way he maneuvers through traffic and finds his teammates is very reminiscent of Steve Nash I think.

[Smills91]

I'm surprised none of you have mentioned Nash yet. The very first ever film footage of his play overseas I saw, I was expecting him to resemble "pistol" petes game since that was all I heard on TV at the time about him but this was quite awhile ago and not at all what I saw and know now. I haven't seen much of his play at all compared to other players in this draft like most of you I'm assuming however.

That first minute of watching him, Steve Nash's passing game jumped out. Mostly the way he maneuvers through traffic and finds his teammates is very reminiscent of Steve Nash I think.

I don't like the Nash comparison because it's TWO things: Hair and Passing that they have in common.

[EddieJonesFan]

I'm surprised none of you have mentioned Nash yet. The very first ever film footage of his play overseas I saw, I was expecting him to resemble "pistol" petes game since that was all I heard on TV at the time about him but this was quite awhile ago and not at all what I saw and know now. I haven't seen much of his play at all compared to other players in this draft like most of you I'm assuming however.

That first minute of watching him, Steve Nash's passing game jumped out. Mostly the way he maneuvers through traffic and finds his teammates is very reminiscent of Steve Nash I think.

I don't like the Nash comparison because it's TWO things: Hair and Passing that they have in common.

Athletically, they're very similar.

[SeattleJazzFan]

Suffocating defense

Good stuff. Seriously.

[Genjuro]

This is an extremely interesting topic. I'm not sure there's any decent comparision in the NBA. Not at least for the current Rubio.

Average athelticism, bad shooting, limited strength, is there any successful PG in the NBA with that combination of flaws?

I'm not saying he will be a bust, anyway.

[yehyeh82]

Bob Cousy

[mattyj]

Rubio isnt nearly the defender Kidd is...i like the smaller Livingston comparison

[Bernman]

Mark Jackson

[jazzfan1971]

Jason Williams?