BARCELONA, Spain (AP) " Spanish teenager Ricky Rubio has decided to enter the NBA draft.
The 18-year-old Rubio, who was under contract with Spanish club DKV Joventut through 2011, has been rated as one of the top picks for the June 25 draft.
"I'm going into the draft because I've been told that I'll go high. That's why I've entered," Rubio said Tuesday. "No basketball player can say no to a high draft spot. That reassures you going over there, the security that your name is recognized."
Rubio, who was a member of Spain's silver medal-winning team at the Beijing Olympics last summer, can still withdraw up to 10 days before the draft at Madison Square Garden.
"My agent will speak to the teams and I'll go to any of them," said Rubio, who believes that the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards appear to be frontrunners.
Rubio wasn't worried about his $7.8 million buyout clause with Joventut affecting his position.
"That can be a drawback but I'm not worried because my agent is working it out," he said.
Rubio has averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 assists this season for Joventut. The 6-foot-2 point guard turns 19 in October, meeting the NBA's minimum age requirement.
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