Billy Cobham
08-22-2008, 12:52 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/crime/ci_10268174
BEIJING — In New York City, point guards grow from cracks on the steamy playgrounds.
The prodigies evolved on the blacktop, simultaneously learning poise and pizazz, from Bob Cousy to Kenny Anderson to Stephon Marbury and many more.
In Spain, "armadores" grow inside steamy gymnasiums.
From Jose Calderon, fifth in the NBA in assists last year, to the budding Rudy Fernandez, to the boy wonder, 17-year-old Ricky Rubio, Spain is the new NYC playground.
"It seems that way," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said.
"Definitely a fun comparison," said journalist Alexander Wolff, who has written about the international game and the New York point guard tradition. "Mediterranean countries have always produced most of the 'dervishing,' creative European players. With the Balkans having been in chaos of late, it's no surprise that the focus would shift to Spain. I wonder, too, if this latest crop has to do with the 1992 Olympics having been in Barcelona and the aftermath of the Dream Team."
Infatuation with basketball became infectious in Spain after the Dream Team's appearance. Thus, this new generation started playing younger and developing faster. And in Spain, a handful of ballhandlers have emerged, flourishing in these Olympic Games. Spain will play in the Olympic semifinals today against Lithuania, with the winner facing the winner of Argentina-United States for gold on Sunday.
"Spanish guards are creative and they run the team extremely well," said Jason Kidd, the starting point guard for Team USA. "And they're the emotional soul of the team."
Team USA assistant coach Nate McMillan credits the rise of the Spanish professional league, "a more NBA style of basketball," for the development of the Spanish point guards. He's got a vested interest — Spanish guard Sergio Rodriguez plays for McMillan's NBA team, Portland, and the 23-year-old Fernandez will play for the Trailblazers this coming season.
"I saw him play two years ago," McMillan said of Fernandez. "He was a young guy who had a lot of potential. To see him now, he's going to be a very good player in the NBA."
Calderon, the 26-year-old Toronto Raptor, is the best NBA guard you've never heard of. He led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio last season.
In these Games, Calderon hasn't been tallying assists the way he does in NBA games, but Fernandez has emerged as a dynamic threat, second on Spain in both scoring and assists.
NBA junkies gush about Portland's potential, with youngsters Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. Don't forget Fernandez. McMillan is giddy about his hustle at both ends of the court.
As for Rubio, well, he's a magician. The prodigy has played professionally since he was 14. In these Games, he leads Spain in assists and is tied for the Olympics lead in steals, 2.6 per game.
In a pool-play loss to America, Rubio effortlessly stripped the ball from LeBron James and, in a fluid motion, whipped a crosscourt pass for an assist, ho-hum.
Comparisons in sports are often dangerous, and premature, but Rubio looks and plays like "Pistol" Pete Maravich. And, like the Hall of Famer, Rubio is freakishly thin at 6-feet-4, lengthy and dazzling, dribbling around opponents like he was figure skating. And he even has Maravich's facial bone structure and flowing, floppy dark hair.
"To be 17, playing in the Olympics, that's truly amazing — I couldn't have done it," Team USA guard Dwyane Wade said. "He looks like a very tough kid, hard-working guy. Hopefully he continues to be hungry and goes out to be the player he wants to become - and not worry about being something that somebody thinks he should be."
BEIJING — In New York City, point guards grow from cracks on the steamy playgrounds.
The prodigies evolved on the blacktop, simultaneously learning poise and pizazz, from Bob Cousy to Kenny Anderson to Stephon Marbury and many more.
In Spain, "armadores" grow inside steamy gymnasiums.
From Jose Calderon, fifth in the NBA in assists last year, to the budding Rudy Fernandez, to the boy wonder, 17-year-old Ricky Rubio, Spain is the new NYC playground.
"It seems that way," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said.
"Definitely a fun comparison," said journalist Alexander Wolff, who has written about the international game and the New York point guard tradition. "Mediterranean countries have always produced most of the 'dervishing,' creative European players. With the Balkans having been in chaos of late, it's no surprise that the focus would shift to Spain. I wonder, too, if this latest crop has to do with the 1992 Olympics having been in Barcelona and the aftermath of the Dream Team."
Infatuation with basketball became infectious in Spain after the Dream Team's appearance. Thus, this new generation started playing younger and developing faster. And in Spain, a handful of ballhandlers have emerged, flourishing in these Olympic Games. Spain will play in the Olympic semifinals today against Lithuania, with the winner facing the winner of Argentina-United States for gold on Sunday.
"Spanish guards are creative and they run the team extremely well," said Jason Kidd, the starting point guard for Team USA. "And they're the emotional soul of the team."
Team USA assistant coach Nate McMillan credits the rise of the Spanish professional league, "a more NBA style of basketball," for the development of the Spanish point guards. He's got a vested interest — Spanish guard Sergio Rodriguez plays for McMillan's NBA team, Portland, and the 23-year-old Fernandez will play for the Trailblazers this coming season.
"I saw him play two years ago," McMillan said of Fernandez. "He was a young guy who had a lot of potential. To see him now, he's going to be a very good player in the NBA."
Calderon, the 26-year-old Toronto Raptor, is the best NBA guard you've never heard of. He led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio last season.
In these Games, Calderon hasn't been tallying assists the way he does in NBA games, but Fernandez has emerged as a dynamic threat, second on Spain in both scoring and assists.
NBA junkies gush about Portland's potential, with youngsters Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. Don't forget Fernandez. McMillan is giddy about his hustle at both ends of the court.
As for Rubio, well, he's a magician. The prodigy has played professionally since he was 14. In these Games, he leads Spain in assists and is tied for the Olympics lead in steals, 2.6 per game.
In a pool-play loss to America, Rubio effortlessly stripped the ball from LeBron James and, in a fluid motion, whipped a crosscourt pass for an assist, ho-hum.
Comparisons in sports are often dangerous, and premature, but Rubio looks and plays like "Pistol" Pete Maravich. And, like the Hall of Famer, Rubio is freakishly thin at 6-feet-4, lengthy and dazzling, dribbling around opponents like he was figure skating. And he even has Maravich's facial bone structure and flowing, floppy dark hair.
"To be 17, playing in the Olympics, that's truly amazing — I couldn't have done it," Team USA guard Dwyane Wade said. "He looks like a very tough kid, hard-working guy. Hopefully he continues to be hungry and goes out to be the player he wants to become - and not worry about being something that somebody thinks he should be."