Basketball player Ricky Rubio’s brutal confession: He leaves the NBA to focus on his mental health

The Spanish Ricky Rubio he announced it on Thursday 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 experiences also in Minnesota, Utah and Phoenix.

On August 5, the Spanish basketball player announced that he would step away from the playing field to focus on his mental health. “July 30th was one of the hardest nights of my life. My mind had gone to a dark place. I kind of knew I was going in that direction, but I never thought I wasn’t in control of the situation. The next day “I decided to leave my professional career.”public.

“One day, when the time is right, I would like to share all my experience so that 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’m proud to say that I’m much better and getting better every day.”He added.

“I wanted to post this 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 deal in July 2022 that would have paid him more than $18 million, according to reports.

According to ESPN, if Rubio decides to continue being active, it would likely be “in his native Spain,” which has caused the Spanish press to begin speculating about his future.

“Ricky Rubio’s decision to end his long and successful experience in the NBA, after reaching an agreement with the Cavaliers to terminate his contract, has put Barça on notice, who have never denied their interest in signing him in the case in which the player wishes to continue playing professionally in Europe”has published the sports newspaper Sport on its website, which closely follows the news of FC Barcelona.

During 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 Championships, bronze at the Rio 2016 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).