"This could not be how Ricky Rubio envisioned his first NBA experience, in the cold, dank barn of San Francisco's Cow Palace, a building that had its heyday when Pink Floyd and KISS were turning out hit albums. The venue is so dim that Rubio's mother, Tona, needed a spotlight as she stood courtside Sunday and videotaped her son's new life in America.

But because the NBA lockout will not end and allow Rubio to discover just where his much-scrutinized game stands alongside bona fide NBA talent in legitimate competition, his debut came not in a Timberwolves uniform but in Drew Gooden's charity game. The young Spaniard was a participant because he is represented by the same firm as Gooden -- and, well, because there's really nothing else to do right now, and players are jumping at the chance to alleviate their boredom and alter their workout routines.

In many ways, this was the perfect game for Rubio to be seen for the first time. Behind-the-back passes were abundant; defense was not. And if there are two things Rubio clearly can do, it's handle the ball and see the floor extremely well."