Hebard’s basketball skills translate easily in any language
Ruthy Hebard
New country, new point guard.
Same Ruthy Hebard.
The fabulous Fairbanks forward delivered a dominating performance in her Turkish Super League debut for Nesibe Aydin, pouring in 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-60 victory.
The 6-foot-4 post player went 11-of-17 from the field and grabbed five offensive rebounds.
The other team, Adana, featured three players 6-2 or taller and as a group grabbed only two more offensive rebounds than Hebard did by herself.
Hebard, of West Valley High fame, added three assists and one steal in logging a team-high 35 minutes.
Not bad for a rookie.
It’s hard to believe she’s still a first-year pro. But it was just three weeks ago that she wrapped up her rookie season in the WNBA with a playoff appearance.
In the WNBA, she played with all-star point guard Courtney Vandersloot. In college at the University of Oregon, she played with all-star point guard Sabrina Ionescu.
In Turkey, she will play with lesser-known teammates outside of fellow WNBA player Shay Peddy of the Phoenix Mercury.
But ‘Get the ball to Ruthy’ translates easily in any language.
As a team Nesibe Aydin dished out 23 assists on 27 field goals, with most of them going to Hebard.
So, in the end, it might not matter who the point guard is in Turkey because early on it looks like her new teammates will find her in the post.