“Going to Minnesota would have just complicated my life a lot.” –SI.com

The man not going to Minnesota is 18-year-old basketball sensation Ricky Rubio, who made the decision earlier this week to stay in Europe and not play in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rubio’s reasoning for staying in Spain involved a tricky buyout from his old team, DKV Joventut, for which Minnesota was only able to pay $500,000 of the hefty $8.1 million buyout fee.

In plain words, Rubio wasn’t satisfied. From day one, like many foreign players, Rubio wanted to be on a big market team. And if circumstances had landed him in New York, Los Angeles or Cleveland, he’d be in the U.S. right now training for the upcoming season. Unfortunately for Rubio, Commissioner David Stern announced the teen star would be headed to Minnesota. Even if Rubio can’t locate Minnesota on a map, he obviously can notice its lack of a major market fan base and restaurants – the essentials for young NBA players these days.

This isn’t the first time that this situation has happened to a hyped-foreign player.
Yi Jianlian was drafted sixth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks and wasn’t happy about it (sound familiar?), although he eventually did sign with the Bucks after long contract negotiations. So it was no surprise when it was announced last year that he would be traded to the New Jersey Nets after two mere seasons, giving Yi the attention he thinks he deserves.

Unlike Yi or Rubio, Pau Gasol, the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks (immediately traded that day to the Memphis Grizzlies) in the 2001 draft, knew that Memphis would be a small market team, but was willing to sacrifice that for his desire to play in the NBA. How’d that work out? Gasol won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, is a two-time NBA All-Star and won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not once did Gasol ever demand a trade or whine about being in Memphis. Instead, he focused on the game, and for that, has been rewarded with a great career.

When it comes to foreign players, they need to treat the NBA like an opportunity, no matter if they’re playing for Boston or Oklahoma City. Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the league, tears it up in New Orleans. He single-handedly brought attention to what was a franchise that was down in the dumps. The truth is, if you prove yourself to be in the elite of the NBA, your fame will come. But if you worry more about jumping ship than about your jump shot, you’re in for a rough ride.