NBA Players with huge fan bases around the world – NBA Feature - Part 5
8. Ricky Rubio
One of the youngest and most talented stars currently applying his trait in the NBA is Ricky Rubio. The Spanish international has achieved much success in the early stages of his career and is only bound to further success as he
grows as a player.
Coming out of the youth academies of Barcelona, Rubio was drafted to the NBA by the Minnesota Timberwolves as an 18 year old. However having a hefty buyout clause on his contract restricted him from bringing his talents to the
NBA until 2011.
Ever since his arrival in the United States, Rubio has taken the NBA by storm with his majestic style and the grace with which he takes to the basketball court. He however has a long way ahead as he grows not only as a player but
also as an international icon over the globe.
Rubio has not won much in his time in the NBA but is acquainted to a fair bit of success in his career. He won the European young player of the year award three times in a row and also had the privilege of winning FIBA Europe under
16 Championship. But these achievements are nothing compared to what he achieved in 2008 when he was part of the Spanish team which won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.
The young Spaniard still has much to experience as he becomes and will become even more recognized by fans. For now, having the 15th most selling jersey in NBA will do just good.
9. Jeremy Lin
What Jeremy Lin has achieved in the past year in regard to international recognition cannot be matched by any player who went undrafted and had considered giving up basketball as a profession.
From going undrafted in 2010, Lin did have to struggle to get his bit. But now, he is a widely recognized athlete from the NBA.
The route taken to stardom by Lin was not usual. But he did get it done in the long run. From being young and rising prospect of the D-League, Lin has grown into a super star status which is not matched by any player of his calibre.
Discarded by the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, Lin did not get much success in his early days in the Big Apple and did have to play in the D-League. But who knew it was going to take an experimental chance given
by Mike D’Antoni, and 26 games of phenomenal basketball later, the Linsanity phenomenon had come into existence which has led Lin to being one of the most talked about players in the past year.
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