Timberwolves fans waited through two long, losing seasons to see if Ricky Rubio indeed was real and not some strange, mythical creature. The answer, of course, is a resounding yes. Before he suffered a torn ACL on March 9, the Wolves were in playoff contention and a new NBA commercial touted the Spanish point guard by proclaiming "El Futuro Es Big." Anybody who buys a ticket in Target Center's cheap seats and still can see Rubio's fluttering eyelashes knows there's something special about this 21-year-old. His flashy game and boyish good looks are bringing the franchise international media exposure as reporters from Sports Illustrated to the New Yorker magazine arrived in town this season to spread his story. They should be back next season when he is expected to make a full recovery.
Runner-up: Christian Ponder, Vikings quarterback
