A decade before he made a buzzer-beater that defeated Oklahoma City, Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio launched a magical last-second shot that changed his life.
Back then, Rubio was a 15-year-old prodigy known in certain circles for making his Spanish professional playing debut at the tender age of 14.
But his name became known around the Internet — and thus the world — after his stunning halfcourt shot saved Spain and helped it beat Russia for the FIBA Under-16 European championship. All these years later, Rubio still considers the shot that defined his mind-boggling 51-point, 24-rebound, 12-assist, seven-steal performance that day a mystical moment.
It came three weeks after a childhood friend and teammate who played a career-altering role in his life by literally giving Rubio the sneakers off his feet was killed in a motorbike accident.
To this day, Rubio believes friend Guillem Raventos guided that shot into the basket and that is why he points his index finger skyward every game he plays now.
"Well, it was a sad story," Rubio said, "but I'm always going to remember him."
And the shot as well …
A game video — shot with one camera from the back row of a small, packed gym in Linares, Spain — still is out there on YouTube. (Watch it here, starting at 1:24.00) It shows Russia apparently winning the game in the final seconds on a three-point shot. But while Russian players ran back down the court leaping and his teammates jogged back stunned, a skinny point guard can be seen motioning for a teammate to inbound the ball.
