Ricky Rubio's Marketing Opportunities In NBA Could Be Plentiful

Endorsement Deals May Encourage Rubio To Play For T'Wolves This Year

The marketing opportunities for T'Wolves draft pick Ricky Rubio, if he signs with the team, "should be plentiful for a precocious young talent with the flair for the dramatic," according to Jon Krawczynski of the AP. Rubio is facing a contract buyout from Spanish club DKV Joventut for $6M, but securing endorsement deals "might mean the difference between playing" for the T'Wolves in the NBA this year or "delaying that dream for another season or two." Millsport Dir Darin David said that Rubio's marketing appeal "both in Europe and the United States would make it conceivable for him to recoup much of the money he loses on the buyout, if not all, through endorsements." David: "If he is able to deliver the kind of play that's expected of him, then certainly between the U.S. and Spain he's going to be more popular and have a lot more interest globally." Krawczynkski noted Rubio is already appearing in a commercial for Gillette alongside Yankees SS Derek Jeter, tennis player Roger Federer and golfer Tiger Woods. Davie Brown Talent Group Account Dir Matt Delzell: "Hype got him this commercial. He hasn't played one second of NBA basketball, but there's already so much hype." Meanwhile, T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn yesterday flew to Spain to meet with DKV Joventut officials "in hopes of reducing the cost of the buyout" (AP, 7/20).