The Spanish Ricky Rubio announced this Thursday that retire from the NBAafter being out of action this season with his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to focus on your mental health. The point guard leaves behind a 12-year career in the world’s top basketball league, with stints also in Minnesota, Utah and Phoenix.
On August 5, the Spanish basketball player had announced that he was stepping away from the playing fields to focus on his mental health. “July 30 was one of the hardest nights of my life. My mind went to a dark place. In a way I knew I was going in that direction, but I never thought that I was not under control of the situation. The next day “I decided to leave my professional career.”public.
“Someday, when the time is right, I would like to share my full experience so I can help others who are going through similar situations. Until then, I would like to keep it private (…) as I am still working on my mental health “But I am proud to say that I am much better and that I am improving every day.”he added.
“I wanted to post this message today because my NBA career has come to an end.”complete.
ESPN reported that Rubio, 33, and the Cavaliers had agreed to a contract buyout. The Spaniard had signed a three-year agreement in July 2022 that would bring him more than $18 million, according to reports.
According to ESPN, if Rubio decides to continue being active it would probably be “in his native Spain”, which caused the Spanish press to begin speculating about his future.
“Ricky Rubio’s decision to put an end to his long and successful time in the NBA, after reaching an agreement with the Cavaliers to terminate his contract, has put Barça on guard, which has never denied its interest in incorporating him. in case the player wants to continue playing at a professional level in Europe”published on its website the sports newspaper Sport, which closely follows the news of FC Barcelona.
Throughout his NBA career, Rubio averaged 10.8 points and 7.4 assists per game.
Rubio was the youngest player to participate in the Spanish ACB League when he debuted in 2005 with Joventut de Badalona at the age of 14 and participated in the Euroleague when he turned 16.
He was a first-round pick by the Timberwolves in 2009 with the fifth overall pick, but played the next two years with Barcelona, until 2011.
To his successful club career, the Spaniard added gold at the 2019 World Cup, bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and silver at Beijing 2008.
“Thank you for making us daydream for so many nights in the NBA. You have and will have all the SUPPORT of #LaFamilia, Ricky Rubio”wrote the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) on its official account on X (formerly Twitter).