Despite only teaming up in the NBA for the first time this season, Utah Jazz players Joe Ingles and Rocky Rubio have already played together for Barcelona back in 2010-11. That said, they have built a strong bond, and have had their hilarious and friendly banter on Twitter in the past.

The 30-year-old Australian international recently recalled his experience having Rubio play alongside him before. He also shared, to Dejan Kalinic of Sporting News via Omniport, what he thinks of his style of play, particularly his passing ability, and even compared him to one of the biggest names in the music industry today, Justin Bieber.

 

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“I think with Ricky, the way he passes the ball and plays defense are kind of our coach's two main things, so if you can play defense you can stay on the court and obviously we were first or second in passes per possession,” Ingles said.

“That's the way we play and Ricky fits both of those attributes that we've got as a group. We played together seven years ago, I think we were saying, in Barcelona – a long time ago now.”

“I think he was 18 or 19 and I was early 20s, and he was like the Justin Bieber of Spain. So it was very entertaining for my first year in Europe, but he's a really good player, he'll help us a lot.”

Joe Ingles’ comments proves further how big Ricky Rubio was even before playing in the NBA. He started his professional career when he was only 15 years old. Unlike other teenagers who participated in pickup games, he was already playing at a high level, and even competed in EuroLeague championships.

Joe Ingles
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Now part of the Jazz with Ingles, both of them have a chance to play bigger roles, especially with Gordon Hayward no longer part of the team. If the two can have career years, not only will they be able to set their respective futures for more success, but could also make their team a dark horse in the tough Western Conference.