Is Rubio’s Fine Future in the Past?

Hardly ever would a 20-year-old basketball player be considered over the hill. But Ricky Rubio set the bar high for himself with his precocious play. Along the way, he has won championships at each level.

Rubio made his professional debut at 14 with DKV Joventut in the ACB league of Spain, mesmerizing audience with his originality and basketball acumen. In 2009, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him fifth over all in the N.B.A. draft.

He elected to stay in Spain, moving across town to F.C. Barcelona, one of the most famous basketball teams in Europe. The team won a Euroleague title last season with Rubio playing a rather minor role.

For much of the important action of the Euroleague Final Four, he watched from the bench. Rubio was just a rookie at this level, and people said he still had a lot to learn.

NBA signs deal with Thomson Sport ahead of debut UK game

By contracting a major sponsorship deal with the NBA before its first-ever UK game at London's O2 in March,Travel company Thomson Sport has heightened its interest in US sport.

To increase up its commercial relationships with US sports is being bidding by Thomson.Thomson after receiving the major contract will be able to receive prominent brand exposure around game held at The O2.

Brand exposure at the NBA's website, NBA.com will be also granted where it will present a new editorial feature highlighting its travel services.

The NBA, like the NFL, is targeting new markets to enhance its appeal outside its core US business.

Knee Surgery for Blazers' Roy

Brandon Roy,Portland Trail Blazers star will have arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees next week.

Team member expressed that there is no schedule for the All-Star guard’s return.

Because of soreness in knee,Roy had missed out sixteen season.He has said the pain is caused by insufficient cartilage.

"To return back on the floor,I'm trying a lot to do the best thing ," Roy said. "We've been able to get a number of different opinions and it's something we've decided."

Portland said on December 30 that Roy would be sidelined indefinitely.

They are also without center Greg Oden, who is out for the season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery.

New York Knicks (21-14) at Los Angeles Lakers (26-11)

The New York Knicks will take on the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center this Sunday.

New York has won three consecutive,18 of 24 games since mid-November and started a four-game road trip with a 121-96 triumph at Phoenix on Friday.

"I had one objective and that was to dominate from the start," Stoudemire said. "That was my main goal was to dominate from the get go. I got it going early. Then in the second half they went to a zone and my teammates got it going. The great thing about our team is that we're so versatile that no matter how teams play us we can adjust."

"It's a huge honor to climb the ladder once again, especially to get past Oscar. He was a great player," said Bryant

Sasha Vujacic to join New Jersey Nets in trade deal

The London-bound New Jersey Nets have consent to a trade that will land them NBA champion Sasha Vujacic.

Serbian guard Vujacic support the Los Angeles Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 and is set to join the Nets in a three-team deal that will see talented youngster Terrance Williams head from New Jersey to the Houston Rockets while veteran power forward Joe Smith is set to join the Lakers.


The Nets head to London in March to play the first ever consistent season games in Europe when they host the Toronto Raptors at the O2 Arena on March 4 and 5. It will be an immediate return to London for Vujacic who played at the O2 in October for the Lakers in their NBA Europe Live loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

BBVA TO LAUNCH FIRST NBA-THEMED AD CAMPAIGN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Like in the NBA, working with the right banking team and executing on a well-designed strategy can be a game changer. This fast-paced, action-packed commercial highlights the importance of teamwork in the NBA by showcasing high flying alley-oop slam dunks, no-look passes and the satisfaction derived by teammates after executing a well-designed play. The :15 and :30 second versions of the commercial are the result of a collaborative effort by BBVA Compass and GSD&M Idea City.

This season, the league will play its first regular-season games in Europe, a two-game matchup in March between the Nets and the Toronto Raptors in London. And having conquered China, the N.B.A. has its sights fixed on Asia’s other big emerging market: India.

But in part because the I.P.L. has proved that city-based sports franchises can succeed in India, many sports are betting that they will be able to find new fans and corporate backers here.

Imagine this: NBA players flooding international leagues next season. Superstars and their celestial brethren driving to the hoop in teams throughout Europe. Kobe Bryant at Besiktas in Turkey. LeBron James at Panathinaikos in Greece. Dwyane Wade at Barcelona in Spain.

NBA Europen: Sasha Vujacic connect to New Jersey Nets

New Jersey Nets have tally a trade that will land them NBA Europen champion Sasha Vujacic. Nets team is the very graceful you will see and their is a three-team deal that will see talented youngster Terrance Williams head from New Jersey to the Houston Rockets while veteran power forward Joe Smith is set to join the Lakers.

New Nets Jersey is a head to London play the first ever regular season games in Europe in March, at the 02 Arena host the Toronto Raptors on 4 and 5 March.

Vujacic will comeback to London and played at the 02 Arena in October for the Lakers in their NBA Europe Live loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.