The reason this works is that there's a predictable relationship between a player's stats in the Euroleague -- the highest level of European basketball -- and what they'll be in the NBA. Crossing the Atlantic does the following to a player's results:
• Scoring rate decreases 25 percent
• Rebound rate increases by 18 percent (there are more missed shots in NBA play)
• Assist rate increases by 31 percent (Euro scorers are tightwads with assists)
• Shooting percentage drops by 12 percent
• Overall, PER drops by 30 percent.
Now this article is more than a year old, but I decided to play around with it.
Current stats with FC Barcelona
19.8 MPG
5.2 PPG
2.1 RPG
4.9 APG
47.8 FG%
Rubio's projected stats
19.8 MPG
3.9 PPG
2.5 RPG
6.4 APG
35.8 FG%
Rubio's stats per 48
9.5 PPG
6 RPG
15.5 APG (second only to Steve Nash)
Ricky Rubio with 33 MPG.
6.5 PPG
4.2 RPG
10.7 APG