Ricky Rubio will live his dream epilogue at Joventut
The player will once again wear the shirt of the club that trained him.
BadalonaAs Xavi Ballesteros (Badalona Television) has advancedRicky Rubio will return to playing professional basketball. The point guard has signed with Joventut Badalona, which has yet to make the deal official. Twenty years after his early debut at just 14 years old, the El Masnou player will once again wear the green and black jersey.
Rubio's return took place on Friday with a meal with sporting director Jordi Martí and coach Dani Miret. The day before, he had also had a conversation with Tomás Dagà, the strong man at Scranton, the investment vehicle of the Grifols family that controls the majority stake in Penya. The 34-year-old player will share a position with Ludde Hakanson and Guillem Vives.
Rubio debuted with Joventut's first team in 2005. The Catalan point guard played for Badalona until 2009, when he signed for Barça. During his second season with the Blaugrana, he won the Euroleague. His NBA career includes the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Utah Jazz, the Phoenix Suns, a second stint with the Wolves, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On July 30, 2023, Rubio endured one of the toughest nights of his life. "My mind went into a dark place. Somehow, I knew I was going in that direction, but I never thought that I didn't have the situation under control. The next dayI decided to stop my professional career", he explained. After opting out of playing in the World Cup with the Spanish national team and taking some time to take care of his mental health, Rubio re-signed with Barça. "I suffered from chronic stress, an anxiety disorder, and I needed to stop," he admitted on the day of his presentation. and 13 of the Euroleague, but the experience wasn't what he had imagined. The team's poor dynamic complicated his return. When the season ended, the player took a sabbatical. He thanked all the cities where he had played. Some interpreted it as an announcement of his retirement. A few days after being interviewed by Jordi ÉvoleRicky Rubio has made his final decision. "I've missed basketball and I've enjoyed playing in an amateur league again, but I'm carrying the character around with me and it's hard for me. I want to enjoy basketball again without anyone judging me," confessed Rubio, who has become an icon that transcends sports and has now joined the ranks of athletes like Michael Jackson who have put mental health on the table.
"In the end, I didn't enjoy playing basketball anymore. There were no gray areas in my life, and that's something I'm just starting to learn now. Some locker rooms were a jungle. Some players have a dark side because, sometimes, in order for them to succeed, they have to bring you down. I still saw everything as a bright spot, but I didn't have one.
Messages of support
Although it's not yet official, the news of Ricky Rubio's return sparked an outpouring of support. "It's great news for basketball and for Catalan sport," celebrated Berni Álvarez, Catalan Minister of Sports.
Rubio's official debut will be on September 18 in the Catalan League, which will be played in Tarragona. His opponent will be MoraBanc Andorra. The following day, he will play against Barça, also at the same venue.