Last week's news that potential No. 2 pick Ricky Rubio doesn't want to play in Memphis or Oklahoma City was a bit disconcerting.

It isn't that Rubio — who some have labeled the "Spanish Pete Maravich" — doesn't want to start his NBA career with a perennial loser. A handful of players have felt that way, acted upon it and dealt with the repercussions, including Danny Ferry, Steve Francis and Kobe Bryant, the latter to a lesser degree.

The greater issue is that Rubio is the latest in a line of recent Spanish players whose professed desire to play in the NBA was not nearly as strong as they claimed.

It is quite possible that Rubio's stance is being advanced by agent Dan Fegan, who unsuccessfully tried a similar stunt with client Yi Jianlian and the Milwaukee Bucks two years ago. Rubio has a stronger bargaining position because his contract with Spanish team DKV Joventut has a prohibitive buyout and he is very comfortable remaining in his home country for a year or two.

It also is possible that the 18-year-old Rubio may believe he is not mentally ready for the combination of culture shock, physical play and role reduction that has impacted many young foreign players. At his age, there is no shame in that.

But the public presentation emerging from Rubio's camp — whether it is true or not — is one that reeks of a misplaced sense of entitlement normally seen at a debutante ball. Worse, it conveys a level of disdain for the NBA, the unquestioned pinnacle of the sport. Whether you are a general manager or a fan, that has to make you wonder about a player's commitment and mental makeup.

And Rubio wouldn't be the first Spanish player whose commitment and mental makeup has come into question.

If Rubio's camp is using his Spanish team as a safety net, that wouldn't be much different than what went on with Fran Vazquez, the 2005 first-round pick of the Magic who repeatedly told management it was his dream to play in the NBA — then abruptly decided to sign with a Spanish club.

He told a Spanish newspaper that he was "afraid to adapt to the American way of life and of not giving the level they have asked." In the very next sentence, he added, "I'm not a coward." And according to one of his prior coaches in Spain, he couldn't make a decision without clearing it with his girlfriend.

Should a team drafting Rubio question his desire to test himself against the best players in the world?

If Rubio's camp is looking for a cushy situation, that wouldn't be much different than what went on with Juan Carlos Navarro, the former Grizzlies guard who could hardly contain his excitement about joining the NBA — until countrymate Pau Gasol was traded to the Lakers. After saying he wanted to "play in this league for a long time," he left the Grizzlies after just one season and returned to Spain.

You could chalk up Navarro's decision to money; after averaging nearly 11 points with a good 3-point stroke, he was looking for a mid-level exception deal and got that money in Spain. But consider this tidbit from last year:

After Spain was stomped by Team USA in an exhibition game, Marc Spears of the Boston Globe asked a question of Navarro, who responded, "My English not very good." Spears wasn't buying it.

"It was really good when you were playing for the Grizzlies," Spears said. "I interviewed you once by your locker."

Should a team drafting Rubio question his psychological toughness and ability to deal with adversity, let alone the media?

If Rubio's camp is looking to circumvent procedure and authority, that wouldn't be much different than what went on with Jorge Garbajosa, who suffered a serious leg injury while playing for the Toronto Raptors in 2007 but ignored GM Bryan Colangelo's request to continue his rehabilitation and played for Spain in the European Championships that summer.

Garbajosa played just seven games the following NBA season and was bought out by the Raptors after a prolonged and contentious legal entanglement.

Spanish basketball federation president Joe Luis Saez said Garbajosa gave "everything to the national team," which was more than Colangelo could say about him.

Should a team drafting Rubio question his commitment to the people signing his paychecks?

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Before going any further, we should point out that there have been just as many Spanish players that don't stand under the same umbrella. Gasol has carried a "soft" label for some time, evidenced by his 0-12 playoff mark in Memphis and having sand kicked in his face in the 2008 Finals. But you don't become a perennial All-Star without some sort of competitive streak.

Marc Gasol looks like he is going to be throwing his weight around the low post for the next decade. Jose Calderon and Rudy Fernandez are exceeding the physical and mental challenges they have faced and may be future All-Stars. And you don't win the World Championships or push The Redeem Team to the limit in the Olympics without a tablespoon or two of toughness.

This is not some sort of jingoistic rant against Spanish players, either. Before the PC policeman in you fires off an angry email with accusations of prejudice to the address below, try to remember the charming team photo many of these guys posed for before the Olympics.

The point is that Rubio has been playing with, against and among these guys for some time. He has seen how they have handled the multiple challenges they have faced in entering the NBA, certainly has considered their experiences and actions and almost surely will be influenced by them in how he will approach his own situation.

So, does Rubio have the commitment and mental makeup necessary for the NBA?

It's a fair question.

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