HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ricky Rubio is convinced he will have no problem playing with the Spanish National Team at the Eurobasket this summer. "If the knee is OK and there is nothing else, I think it will be a good thing and it's always an honor to play with the National Team." Marca.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Spain, Eurobasket 

Rubio, playing with his own special brand of intensity, finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. It was his first NBA triple double, the first by a Wolves player this season. And, predicted many in the wake of Minnesota’s absurdly unpredictable 107-83 victory over San Antonio, the first of many to come. And, for a night, the rest of his teammates joined in. How else to explain a Wolves team, dead last in the league in three-point shooting, hitting 12 of 20? Or a team that has struggled to score posting 107? Or a team that has been a sieve defensively holding San Antonio to 35.4 percent shooting while holding them to 83 points, matching their season low? “I don’t know where it came from,” Wolves coach Rick Adelman said honestly. “I hope they didn’t use it all in one night.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Jeff McDonald: Asked to assess Ricky Rubio's first pro triple double, Stephen Jackson said: "He's alright." Then he said some more. More Jackson on Rubio: "He's got some upside, I'll say that. But it's all about winning to me, it's not what you do on your personal stuff." Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Jackson 

Now, Maravich was a scorer, but to the casual fan, he's best known for his circus passes. He would speed down the court, his long hair flapping, before he whisked some acrobatic pass that lit up the grainy footage. That's how Rubio does it, and he entered the weekend averaging 7.2 assists, along with 8.9 points for the Timberwolves. "I actually think Rubio's a better passer (than Maravich)," said Nuggets coach George Karl, who played against Maravich. "I think Pistol Pete was a flamboyant passer but more of a scorer, where I see Rubio as a true point guard, a true playmaker. "His length, his flash, there's no question that there are situations that he actually looks like him on film. He's got that long gait, and then the ability to handle the ball at a high efficiency level and also a high dribbling level, that's more Pistol Pete than anybody I've seen." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, George Karl, Ricky Rubio 

Ricky Rubio: "I was obsessed with Jordan (growing up). I just watched the NBA and just watched black players. I wanted to play (in the States) and I told my mother I wanted to be black." SER

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Ricky Rubio: "I didn't attack Mike D'Antoni. I said I would be delighted to have Pau Gasol on my team if they didn't want him. I didn't say anything against him, but he took it personal. Besides, Pau is my friend and I think I can talk about my friends." SER

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Pau Gasol, Mike D'Antoni, Ricky Rubio 

The Wolves are not shopping PG Luke Ridnour, according to a source. The Timberwolves are 2-6 in February, but PG Ricky Rubio is averaging 13.5 points and 9.3 assists during the month. Yahoo! Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Luke Ridnour 

Mark Woods: Ricky Rubio confirmed he'll play for Spain in this summer's EuroBasket Twitter @markbritball

Minnesota Timberwolves, FIBA, Ricky Rubio 

Friday, while talking about his happiness at being a late addition to the Rising Stars Game over the All-Star break, Rubio stated his intention to mimic what Kidd has done as a shooter. "You can work on that," Rubio said. "And you can become a shooter." Kidd is confident that will happen. "You rely on your strengths when you come in the league," he said. "It's just a matter of time. He'll work on shooting the ball and at that point he'll have the total package.'' Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, Ricky Rubio 

Rosters set for Rising Stars Team Shaq: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Andre Drummond, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons, Dion Waiters, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tyler Zeller, Kemba Walker. Team Chuck: Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Ricky Rubio, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Alexy Shved. Sulia

Ricky Rubio, Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Anthony Davis, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, All Star Game 

BallinEurope would really appreciate it if a native speaker of Japanese could translate the below piece on Nikola Pekovic and the Minnesota Timberwolves which recently ran in the periodical Dunk Shot – but it’s already a great big hunk of awesome. Check out the manga versions of Peks, sharp-angled Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey “Tiny” Shved and the doe-eyed Ricky Rubio (What? No Mickael Gelabale?) doing some kind of super task forcey thing and … is that Bill Walton there in panel four? Ball In Europe

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, Bill Walton 

Ricky Rubio: Congratulation to @AdrianPeterson You make it look too easy to come back from a knee injury. Big example. Twitter @rickyrubio9

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Ray Richardson: D'Antoni fires back at Rubio for criticizing his use of Gasol: "When he gets a team he can coach, then he can make that decision!" Twitter @Twolvesnow

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Mike D'Antoni, Ricky Rubio 

In a Thursday afternoon chat with the team's website, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn volunteered yet again that point guard Ricky Rubio and forward Kevin Love are untouchable in trade talks. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Ricky Rubio, David Kahn, Kevin Love 

Ray Richardson: D'Antoni fires back at Rubio for criticizing his use of Gasol: "When he gets a team he can coach, then he can make that decision!" Ooooooh! Twitter @Twolvesnow

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Ricky Rubio 

Pau Gasol has been loosely linked to the Wolves, primarily because of Ricky Rubio. The two are close. Rubio told reporters in Minnesota "[Gasol] proved to the league he is one of the best," Rubio told reporters in Minneapolis. "He can pass. He can shoot. He can rebound. He can do a lot of things. I think if you use him in the right way, he is a top player in this league. If they don't want him, we are more than welcome to get him." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio 

But the Wolves have been decimated by injuries this season and are 17-25, a distant 12th in the Western Conference, so making a trade for a highly paid veteran like Gasol seems like a stretch. The 32-year-old Gasol is making $19 million both this season and next, a big salary that makes it difficult to trade him. ''It's hard, when you are hearing things with the rumors that you are going to be traded, to be focused,'' Rubio said. ''Like he says, he's a professional and he's been playing for a long time and he's going to keep doing what he doing.'' Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio 

Rubio spoke after practice on Thursday, one day before his Minnesota Timberwolves were scheduled to host the Lakers. Rubio says he speaks to Gasol and the other Spanish players in the NBA regularly throughout the season. He says Gasol has proven himself as a top-flight player in this league over the years. He quipped that "if they don't want him, we are more than welcome to get him." Oklahoman

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio 

Rubio didn't play in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss to Brooklyn at Target Center. He appeared set to check in late in the game. But after J.J. Barea hit a three-pointer, Porter decided to stay with Barea, who played the entire quarter. After the game Rubio, frustrated, made his feelings known. But after Friday's morning shootaround, Rubio made it clear he has no issue with Porter. "Of course I was frustrated," Rubio said. "I wanted to play. I always want to play. ... But, actually, I didn't even need to talk [to Porter]. The next day I realized that maybe I didn't deserve [to play] because J.J. was hitting the shots. And he's able to get hot at some point and get a lot of points." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Still, Rubio said he apologized to Porter. "Because it came up I was saying something against him," Rubio said. "And I never went against him. It was something that I was against me, by myself, because I was frustrated with me. But it's something that doesn't have to be against him or against the team. We are here, we are a team, and we always try to do the best for the team." Porter also downplayed the situation. "He was frustrated, like any player would be who wants to play in the fourth quarter," said Porter, a two-time All-Star point guard. "So, really, a dead issue." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio