Just like John Elway, Steve Francis, and Eli Manning before him, Ricky Rubio has refused to sign with the team that drafted him. What makes Rubio's case unique from those others, is the fact that Rubio will not play for the league that drafted him either. Not only did Rubio disrespect the Minnesota Timberwolves by not signing with them, but he also disrespected the NBA when he decided to play in Barcelona instead.

In my opinion, this kind of behavior is extremely childish, and I cannot stand when players do this. When a team drafts you to become a professional athlete, you should be ecstatic to be part of a professional sports organization. How could you be so ungrateful to people who are investing an entire draft pick on you? When a team drafts you, it shows that they believe in you and they respect the way that you play the sport. It is a huge honor to be part of professional sports, but it seems that some athletes just do not see it that way.

It is possible that these athletes are so good that they forget what this is really all about. To them, being a part of professional sports team is something that they expect, not appreciate. From the time most of these athletes are young, they are bred to play sports, and when they are very talented, they are expected, by the people around them, to become a professional. All of those expectations and pressure can definitely get to a person, and it can seriously change the person's way of thinking. I think it is unfortunate for these athletes, and I pity them more than I am angry with their behavior. If a guy like Rubio was truly able to see the opportunity that was thrown at him, without the distorted vision that he probably has from outsiders, he would have jumped at the opportunity to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. After all, is it not the precipice of professional basketball to play in the NBA?