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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 25

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 16, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 8, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Ricky Rubio

Originally projected to be the league’s next phenom point guard, Ricky Rubio‘s passing ability and terrific defense have often gone overlooked thanks to his pedestrian scoring numbers, his poor perimeter shooting, his team’s lack of success and his frequent injuries. The whole “Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him and Jonny Flynn ahead of Stephen Curry” thing doesn’t help either.

Rubio will never be good enough for 95 percent of the NBA community, but here’s an interesting stat: Dating back to his rookie season in 2011-12, the Wolves are 111-163 (.405) in games with Rubio on the floor…as opposed to an atrocious 28-88 (.241) without him.

Rubio is shooting an ugly 37.5 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three-point range, but he’s averaging 10.4 points, 8.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. The growth in his offense hasn’t come, but as Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns grow, Rubio could be the perfect complementary floor general to set them up and help take this team to a new level.

Next: No. 8