Ricky Rubio has played five seasons in the NBA. He never has dunked in a game.

This is common knowledge if you watch the Wolves, and it is confirmed by a search of Basketball Reference. He tried one dunk a few years back and missed it. He's never successfully completed one.

He's done it in warmups before. And he did it in a team video five years ago after coming to Minnesota. But dunking in a game? That's just not something Rubio does.

Until he did it Thursday in the Olympics for Spain and stunned the basketball world. With Spain ahead 53-47 against Nigeria — in a game it needed to win after losing twice to start the Olympics, with Rubio playing poorly in both — Rubio broke free in the open court and threw one down. He ended up scoring 15 points in a 96-87 victory.

Rubio won't be challenging teammates Zach LaVine or Andrew Wiggins to any dunk contests, but it was a legitimate slam.

Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. mrand@startribune.com