Ricky Rubio is stepping away from the NBA for psychological well being causes, bravely sharing his story with the world.
NBA guard Ricky Rubio introduced Thursday that he’s retiring from taking part in basketball within the NBA. In a heartfelt post on X, formerly Twitter, the Spain Native acknowledged he’s stepping away to deal with his psychological well being. This got here after he selected to not take part within the World Cup final summer time.
“July thirtieth was one of many hardest nights of my life. My thoughts went right into a darkish place. I sort of knew I used to be getting in that route, however I’ve by no means thought I used to be beneath management of the state of affairs. The following day, I made a decision to cease by skilled profession.”
Within the second yr of a three-year, $18.44 million contract, each Rubio and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a buyout. With that stated, Rubio, 33, hasn’t performed a single sport for the Cavaliers this season. Candid together with his psychological well being journey, Rubio thanked the Cavaliers group for his or her assist all through his journey. The Cavaliers will obtain monetary aid from the buyout, given he was due $6.1 million this season, and $6.4 million in 2024-2025.
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) January 4, 2024
“Particular point out to Cleveland, stated Rubio in a social media submit. “You have got a tremendous group, with Koby [Altman] and JB [J.B. Bickerstaff], who’ve been extraordinarily respectful and understanding of my state of affairs and caring for me as an individual.”
A real playmaker and flooring common, Rubio was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No.5 within the 2009 NBA Draft. Earlier than Draft Evening, the Spain native performed two seasons in Barcelona.
He went on to play for Minnesota for the primary six years of his profession, after which was traded to the Utah Jazz in 2017 in trade for a 2018 first-round choose. From there, he spent a number of years bouncing from workforce to workforce. Whereas he did not lead the Timberwolves to a single playoff look, we will not overlook his lengthy locks and unselfish sport play. Whereas he wasn’t the most effective shooter, he made up for that via protection. Having stellar IQ, Rubio by no means fairly flourished into the star as anticipated, but was by no means a bust. A stable starter, he was often known as a flashy guard who was a spectacular facilitator.
These Ricky Rubio highlights 👀 pic.twitter.com/gHNc4aZl23
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 3, 2021
A fan favourite in Utah, Rubio led the Jazz to the playoffs in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in 2018. Hampered by accidents, he by no means returned regardless of Utah advancing to the Western Convention Semifinals in opposition to the Houston Rockets. Following a profession excessive 13.1 factors per sport in 2017-2018, the previous guard signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Phoenix Suns. As soon as the Covid-19 Pandemic struck, he was then traded again to the Timberwolves in 2020.
Averaging a profession low 8.6 factors per sport, Rubio was then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Aug. 2021, in trade for Taurean Prince, and a 2022 second-round choose. Shortly after reaching 5,000 assists, the journeyman was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a deal that surrounded Caris LaVert. Because of an ACL tear and knee damage, the guard by no means performed a single sport for the Pacers.
It was then, he resigned with the Cavaliers on a three-year $18 million contract with Cleveland in summer time of 2022. After a lot promise and expertise on this roster, he performed only a mixed 67 video games in two seasons. After beginning most of his profession, Rubio began simply 10 video games for Cleveland from the 2021-2023 season. For a majority of these two seasons, the previous Cavalier frolicked rehabbing a torn ligament in his knee.
“RICKY RUBIO, HE THE GOAT!” pic.twitter.com/BsfBaBvOSw
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 8, 2021
Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman points a press release on his retirement as of yesterday.
““Ricky Rubio embodied the whole lot a franchise would need from such an completed participant, who helped instill a confidence and management high quality that also resonates inside our workforce,” stated Altman. “We want Ricky nothing however the most effective and stay supportive of his determination to proceed specializing in his psychological well being.”
By all of the ups and downs, it appears Rubio has an appreciation for his time within the league.
“I’ve collected a lot of good reminiscences and nice relationships. Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix, and Cleveland. Wow. Thanks!”
Regardless of a number of stints on varied groups, Rubio marked his expertise as a longtime EuroLeague participant early in on his profession. A EuroLeague Champion in 2010, the guard has been in comparison with the late Pete Maravich on a number of events. Coincidently, the basketball world misplaced Maravich 36 years in the past to the date. Ending second in rookie of the yr voting in 2010, Rubio was named NBA All-Rookie First Crew.
These gamers had been drafted 12 YEARS AGO right now
1 Blake Griffin
2 Hasheem Thabeet
3 James Harden
4 Tyreke Evans
5 Ricky Rubio
6 Jonny Flynn
7 Steph Curry
8 Jordan Hill
9 DeMar DeRozan
10 Brandon Jennings
17 Jrue Vacation
42 Patrick Beverley
46 Danny InexperiencedUNDRAFTED: Joe Ingles pic.twitter.com/dYcJ9ab6ZH
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 25, 2021
Along with all of his NBA accolades, Rubio gained a number of awards exterior the NBA. The FIBA World Cup MVP in 2019, he was additionally named EuroCup Champion (2008), Liga ACB Champion (2011), FIBA EuroChallenge Champion (2006), and EuroLeague Rising Star (2010). Having performed abroad because the age of 14, Rubio was a silver medalist within the 2008 Olympics, subsequent to the nice Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, and Rudy Fernández.
Not the primary participant to deal with psychological well being, Rubio had an impactful first season with the Cavaliers just some years in the past. It was then he teamed up with former teammate Kevin Love, who’s additionally been very vocal about psychological well being via his profession.
In 698 profession video games, Rubio averaged 10.8 factors, 1.8 steals, 4.1 rebounds, and seven.4 assists. He was a profession 32.4 % shooter from the three, and 38.8 % from the sphere. Very courageous to share his story publicly, he is chosen self care and caring for himself over the rest. Extraordinarily, brave, there’s a lot extra to life than simply basketball.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports activities Content material Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a concentrate on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at the moment resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
