Now Rubio shown a new wrinkle, making himself into a big-time scorer. In wins over Japan and Argentina, Rubio, 23.4 minutes per game, has averaged 23.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds.The Tokyo 2020 Games were an unprecedented demonstration of unity and solidarity as the world came together for the first time following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic for an Olympic Games focused on the pure essentials: a celebration of athletes and sport. He remains a terrific defender, and an innovative and electrifying passer. Yet Rubio is legitimately Spain's best player - and one battled-tested at the international game's highest stage as evidenced by hoisting the MVP trophy at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. It has taken him longer to become Spain's main man than it has taken Doncic to become Slovenia's. Yet starting in 2019, that player became Ricky Rubio, the point guard who made his debut at the Olympics at the Beijing Games 13 years ago. Two decades into their rivalry, Pau Gasol and Luis Scola are still battling it out in the paint.
For so long it's been Pau and Marc Gasol, and Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull, all veteran players now that stamped their marks with authority on the team's success. This is a national team, which good or bad, is also passing the torch. 2 position in the FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike and continue to possess the kind of talent and synergy that most teams only dream of. They are the winners of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and have more star power and a much bigger reputation than any team they have faced so far. While the exilic of youth is potent, it looks like not just Luka has been dusted by Tokyo's Olympic magic.įor this and many other reasons, Slovenia comes into the game with a healthy respect for Spain, too. "I felt like it was worth the effort, it was worth the risk, and I just felt like I deserved to finish at this stage, so I've been very happy." And so I set myself this goal to get back on the floor and potentially play in the Olympics again with my national team, and I've worked my butt off to do it. "It was a very difficult and challenging injury. I had such an incredible and extraordinary career that I didn't want an injury to finish it for me," the elder Gasol brother said after their Monday night win over Japan. “I love the game. I wanted to finish my career playing. For Pau, it was a battle that nearly looked lost had the Games taken place as originally planned in the summer of 2020. As the saying goes, time is an adversary that goes undefeated - always.Īnd yet, Pau Gasol and the team's veteran core seems to have a bounce in its step heading into the 12 round of this heavyweight fight against time. It's almost as if he has transferred some sort of magic to each and every teammate. There is a good argument to be made that Slovenia's other players are having their best performances because of Doncic. "Today they proved that this team is not just Luka Doncic," he said. He wreaked havoc in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas against Angola, Poland, Venezuela and Lithuania.Īnd there was something that Rui Hachimura said after Slovenia's win over Japan that should have been seen in bright, blinking red lights. There is an even larger sample size to Doncic's domination of international basketball this summer.
Une publication partagée par FIBA what has to not just concern Spain about Doncic, but scare the living daylights out of them. That was what Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez called him after Doncic dropped 48 points on the South American giants when they met on earlier this week as Slovenia prevailed, 118-100.ĭoncic also had 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks against Argentina. He played just 31 minutes.Īgainst Japan, in six less minutes, he had 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals as Slovenia cruised, 116-81.
He has revealed himself to be on the shortest of short lists for the best player in the world title. Doncic, who was 18 years of age at the time, showed signs of his current day brilliance by coming up just a couple of assists shy of a triple-double.Īt the time, Doncic was the rising star of European basketball, though not one that had shown he could play with the best in the NBA.Ī teenaged Doncic helped bring Spain down at FIBA EuroBasket 2017įast forward four years and Doncic has not only proved himself to be one of the best and most exciting players in the NBA with the Dallas Maverics.
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