Rising up in Spain, Ricky Rubio had a call to make. At simply 10, he confirmed promise as an athlete and was requested to decide on between basketball and soccer.
“The true soccer,” he stated.
He was soccer participant, and the recognition of the game in his nation compelled him to throw all the things into it. That lasted for a few month.
Rubio couldn’t ignore a connection to basketball that ran deep. His father was a basketball coach. His older brother was an completed participant. However greater than household ties referred to as to him. The rhythm of the sport, the metronomic beat created by the ball bouncing on the hardwood, was music to his ears. The angles and geometry wanted to excel created equations he reveled in fixing.
“I made a decision I miss basketball an excessive amount of. It’s one thing that was inside me,” he stated. “No person pushed me to play basketball. It’s only a sport that I fell in love with due to how complicated it’s in all single particulars within the recreation.”
These early, harmless days birthed a profession that included Olympic medals, a World Cup title and MVP award and a 12-year NBA profession that ended earlier in January when he introduced his retirement from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rubio additionally paid a value throughout nearly 20 years within the highlight. As a 14-year-old prodigy in Spain, he gave his youth to the sport in his eagerness to get his profession began. He shouldered the stress that comes with being a much-hyped prospect and endured a number of main accidents all through his NBA profession that challenged him mentally and bodily to such a level that he couldn’t muster a thirteenth season within the NBA.
Rubio’s resolution to retire got here 4 months after he introduced he was stepping away to deal with his psychological well being. He alluded to July 30 being “one of many hardest nights of my life” and stated the sensation of shedding management prompted him to finish his profession.
For a participant who gained over followers, coaches and teammates together with his charming, relentlessly optimistic persona within the locker room and his dazzling unselfishness on the court docket, Rubio’s revelation was regarding for thus many who related with him. To listen to Rubio inform it now, his love for the sport and taking part in it was all the time pure, however his hakuna matata exterior masked an underlying anguish that was tormenting him.
“I’ve all the time been that man making an attempt to be optimistic,” Rubio stated in a phone interview from his dwelling in Spain. “However generally it was me mendacity to myself, saying, ‘Don’t really feel that means’ as a result of it’d cease you. … Ultimately, in case you deceive your self, it will probably catch up in a unsuitable means, like what occurred to me. So be true to your self.”
He isn’t but able to make public the precise nature of his struggles. His wounds are therapeutic, however there may be nonetheless work he’s doing to climb out of the outlet he was in. What he can say proper now could be simply how deep within the gap he was.
“I’ve goose bumps desirous about these days when all the things was darkish,” Rubio stated. “I had one thing clouding my thoughts that I couldn’t recover from. Now I’m doing significantly better with the assistance that I wanted and constructing myself from inside-out as a substitute of outside-in.”
Ricky Rubio performed for 4 franchises over his 12-year profession, ending with the Cleveland Cavaliers. (David Richard / USA Right this moment)
It was clear from a younger age that the sport coursed by way of his veins. He confirmed sufficient promise to swimsuit up for DKV Joventut as a 14-year-old in 2005, turning into the youngest ever to play in a Spanish ACB League recreation.
He was named FIBA Europe Younger Participant of the 12 months in 2007, ’08 and ’09. His imaginative and prescient and passing made him a crowd favourite and his household labored onerous to guard him from the eye at such a younger age.
“It got here so quick and so pure that I couldn’t even assume (do) I need to be knowledgeable,” Rubio stated. “It was, I am knowledgeable.”
He joined the Spanish nationwide workforce for the 2008 Olympics and went international together with his efficiency in opposition to Crew USA within the gold medal recreation in Beijing. The Spaniards pushed the Redeem Crew, led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. Their 17-year-old level guard didn’t again down an inch.
“I used to be fearless and I didn’t know the unsuitable facet, I might say,” Rubio stated. “I all the time considered good issues and I loved that closing.”
His numbers didn’t leap out. Six factors, six rebounds, three assists. However as the sport wore on, it was clear that this teenager was one among his nation’s most essential gamers. Spain fell 118-107 with Wade and Bryant main the People’ bounce again from a bronze medal end in Athens in 2004.
However the efficiency put Rubio on the map. Shortly after the sport, he wanted surgical procedure on his proper wrist due to an damage he suffered, however the rush he felt of competing in opposition to gamers he watched on tv as a boy masked any ache in the course of the recreation itself.
“I used to be having a lot enjoyable, I might have performed with one leg,” he stated.
Rubio and Spain went on to win the gold medal at EuroBasket in 2009. Ten years later, he earned MVP honors as he led Spain to the FIBA World Cup championship. These groups had been Rubio’s favourite, a brotherhood with the likes of Pau and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Juan Carlos Navarro and Juancho and Willy Hernangomez. His affection and respect for these males helped hone his strategy to the sport as he developed from one of many first actual YouTube sensations into a real ground common.
As Rubio ready for the 2009 NBA Draft, these grainy spotlight reels had been all that the majority followers needed to get an thought of what this floppy-haired passing savant was all about. His exercises with NBA groups main as much as the draft had been shrouded in thriller. When he was chosen fifth by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was requested in his first interview off of the stage to what participant he would evaluate himself.
“I’m Ricky Rubio,” he stated. “I’m not like anyone else.”
That turned a mantra of kinds that adopted Rubio to the Twin Cities, a philosophy that centered on avoiding comparisons and staying true to at least one’s self. Fifteen years later, Rubio says that deep down inside, adhering to that credo was way more tough than he made it look.
“I want I might have lived by these phrases. I’ve tried,” Rubio stated.
The celebration on draft night time was muted due to the uncertainty surrounding his contract state of affairs in Spain. His contract with Joventut referred to as for a buyout of greater than $6.5 million to safe his launch. The Timberwolves had been solely allowed to pay $500,000, so Rubio remained in Spain for 2 extra seasons.
He was traded from Joventut to Regal Barcelona in 2009, and Rubio remembers being booed by Joventut followers when he got here again to play there, a stinging response to one thing past his management that gave him an early glimpse into the extra cutthroat facet of the sport.
“It has been type of forgotten as a result of I didn’t need to imagine that feeling,” Rubio stated. “If I might have believed that feeling, it might have destroyed me. I used to be 18 years previous, and it was tremendous enormous for me. After which I spotted it was a enterprise.”
So started Rubio’s efforts to not let the surface world know what was occurring beneath his boyish smile and enthusiastic nature.
“Possibly as a result of I’m a brilliant sentimental individual, however I needed to cover my emotions from me generally (so I) don’t really feel it and it doesn’t cease me from acting at a excessive stage,” he stated.
After two years with Barcelona, the buyout lastly reached a manageable determine to permit Rubio to come back to the NBA.
On June 20, 2011, he arrived together with his household at Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport. When he walked into the bags declare space, greater than 100 followers, workforce workers and cheerleaders had been ready for him.
“I felt like a rock star,” he stated. “I didn’t need any of the highlight, to be trustworthy. However I wasn’t complaining. It felt nice.”
When he lastly hit the court docket at Goal Middle, it was pure electrical energy. Teaming with a younger All-Star in Kevin Love and taking part in below an completed head coach in Rick Adelman, Rubio burst onto the NBA scene. He threw passes from angles solely he might see and teammates can be shocked when the ball discovered its means into their fingers for a simple dunk or wide-open jumper.
In an period the place scoring level guards similar to Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams had been turning into the norm, Rubio made passing cool once more. Behind the again, no-look, on the run, lobs from past half court docket, something was on the desk.
“That was pure Ricky,” he stated. “It wasn’t one thing disrespectful to the opposite workforce. It was extra one thing to have enjoyable with the sport. I’m all the time making an attempt to be respectful with everyone. However on the identical time, I wish to have enjoyable on a basketball court docket.”
Behind Rubio’s joyous orchestration and Love’s scoring and rebounding, the Timberwolves had been 21-19 and chasing down their first playoff look since 2004 once they performed the Los Angeles Lakers on March 9, 2012. They led 102-101 with 17 seconds to play when Bryant collided with Rubio’s knee, and Rubio crumpled to the court docket. The sector has by no means been so quiet. He tore the ACL in his left knee, an damage that began the Wolves on a downward spiral and altered the course of his profession.
“I felt, at one level, invincible,” he stated. “Then that damage occurred and I stated that it gained’t have an effect on me. I’ll come again. I gained’t say I used to be harmless, however I used to be not pondering that I might fail.”
Rubio missed the primary six weeks of his second season whereas finishing his rehab, and it took him one other six weeks to begin taking part in as much as his expectations. The Rubio who returned from that damage was a extra cautious participant, extra deliberate in his passing and fewer liable to taking dangers. He would finally return to a starting-caliber level guard with some distinctive moments, however he by no means fairly recaptured the magic of that rookie season.
“I all the time take into consideration that day that I bought harm and what might have occurred,” Rubio stated. “All the pieces occurs for a cause. And generally I give it some thought. However I used to be having a lot enjoyable that season, I couldn’t imagine it.”
Simply days earlier than the 2015-16 season started, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders, who developed an in depth bond with Rubio, died all of the sudden from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Rubio misplaced his mom, Tona, to lung most cancers in 2016, a demise so devastating that he thought of retirement. He tried to maintain his chin up whereas enduring the ache, nevertheless it was exhausting.
“I needed to carry out, I needed to play basketball. And that’s what I’m right here for. And it’s one thing that I don’t remorse as a result of issues labored in a extremely great way for me,” Rubio stated. “However on the identical time, I want I might have been extra trustworthy with myself.”
He spent yet one more season (2016-17) in Minnesota, however he by no means bought on the identical web page as coach Tom Thibodeau and was traded to Utah earlier than the 2017 draft.
“Trying again within the 12 years of my profession, in fact, your first time it’s all the time nice. A rookie season is particular,” Rubio stated. “However that was one thing actually, actually particular for me, and I feel for Minnesota as nicely.”
As onerous as he performed, Rubio says he needs he “would have been extra trustworthy with myself.” (J Pat Carter / Getty Photos)
The transition to Utah was comfy for Rubio, who noticed similarities to Minnesota when it comes to the mid-sized market and high quality of life away from the court docket. He took rapidly to the Jazz group, a tradition-rich franchise that handled its gamers nicely and had an ordinary of expectations that he wasn’t used to in Minnesota.
The Jazz gained 48 video games in Rubio’s first season there, giving him his first style of the playoffs in his seventh season within the league. The Jazz beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the first spherical, and Rubio completely outplayed Westbrook within the sequence, averaging 14.0 factors, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.3 steals.
“That was my largest problem within the NBA,” Rubio stated. “I by no means took it personally. I all the time thought concerning the workforce and the way we might beat them as a workforce.”
Whereas in Utah, Rubio teamed up with the A Breath of Hope Lung Basis to lift cash for most cancers analysis in honor of his mom. He was lively locally and appreciative of the Utah followers’ basketball information and fervour.
“I really feel just like the followers are part of the sport as nicely,” he stated. “I all the time attempt to go away an impression locally that I play for simply because we’re so grateful that we now have to be position mannequin for lots of children rising up and watching us play. Now we have to make use of our celeb to our benefit, that they take heed to us greater than a instructor or a mother or father generally.”
Rubio spent two seasons in Utah earlier than signing with the rebuilding Phoenix Suns as a free agent in 2019. He spent a yr in Phoenix, the place he and his spouse, Sara, welcomed their son, Liam, into the household after which spent the ill-fated 2020-21 season again in Minnesota, the place a heartwarming reunion was short-circuited by the pandemic.
The Timberwolves traded Rubio to Cleveland within the 2021 offseason. After initially having reservations about becoming a member of one other younger workforce that didn’t determine to contend instantly, he was rapidly gained over by the Cavaliers. He scored 37 factors in a win in Madison Sq. Backyard early within the season and averaged a career-high 13.1 factors per recreation off the bench for a Cavs workforce that exceeded expectations.
After years of trying to find the vibes of that rookie season in Minnesota, Rubio lastly began to really feel that tingle of invincibility once more.
“I reached some extent the place all the things was in an ideal state of affairs. Me being in a workforce that they want me to carry out at a excessive stage, at my prime bodily and mentally,” Rubio stated. “It was one of the best I felt.”
That made what occurred in New Orleans on Dec. 28, 2021, all of the extra devastating. The Cavs had been down two within the closing 2 minutes, 30 seconds of the sport when Rubio took a shovel move from Love and drove down the lane. As Pelicans middle Jonas Valančiūnas slid over to cease the penetration, Rubio planted together with his left leg and slipped a move to Evan Mobley. His left knee, the identical one he injured in 2012, buckled.
A day after the damage, with an outpouring of sympathy directed towards one of many league’s preferred gamers, Rubio once more projected positivity. He posted a video of Bryant urging to “all the time hold going.”
“What I’ve come to search out out,” Bryant stated, “is that, it doesn’t matter what occurs, the storm finally ends.”
It took Rubio greater than a yr to come back again from that damage, however in some methods, his storm continues to be going.
“I nonetheless assume I’m not over it, to be trustworthy with you,” Rubio stated. “I misplaced numerous confidence on why issues all the time labored in that means the place I used to be having season with all the things in place and, after all of the storms that I’ve been by way of, and also you give me that now?”
The Cavaliers’ season led to April with a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Knicks within the first spherical of the playoffs. Rubio returned to Spain and was met face-to-face by the demons that had been whispering in his ears for years. In his NBA retirement announcement, he stated that July 30 “was one of many hardest nights of my life. My thoughts went to a darkish place.”
Rubio had handled despair up to now, however he might determine the foundation trigger when his mom handed away. This time was not so easy. Sure, the damage was deflating, however he didn’t imagine that was a “main, vital occasion that triggered me that. It’s been small, little issues which have been constructing from the previous and finally catches up.”
All these years later, Rubio wonders if beginning so younger was one of the best factor for him, particularly if the stressors that began at 14 and gathered throughout 20 years prevented his one probability at being a child.
“It’s robust and it’s onerous to do since you solely have one probability, in all probability, generally in life,” he stated. “In the event you don’t bounce on that prepare, you don’t know what would have occurred. However I want I might have loved extra that early stage of my life.”
Possibly that’s why that boyish allure was so evident in his early days within the NBA, the child inside him making an attempt to burst out of the fishbowl created by coming into the skilled realm so younger. Ultimately, basketball turned one of many predominant issues in his life that was holding him again and never giving him pleasure.
He was stateside due to basketball whereas his mom was being handled for most cancers. He needed to go away his spouse and new child son just some days after he was born to go on the highway with the Suns.
By each little bit of adversity, Rubio tried to inform himself, and the world round him, “by no means too excessive, by no means too low.” The battle inside him lastly turned an excessive amount of to bear.
“I used to be misplaced. I didn’t know who I used to be. I needed to rebuild myself,” he stated. “I feel finally lots of people have that time of their life that has to rebuild them as a result of they’ve misplaced the give attention to the aim of their life. Fortunately, I finished it in time.”
Rubio was surrounded by household, mates, former teammates and basketball individuals who provided help and nicely needs. He began to get assist to deal with what he was going by way of and has, step by step, began to come back out of the fog.
“I do know I’m not alone. So I really feel like once you communicate out, individuals relate to you,” he stated. “We’re human beings, we undergo the identical issues in a distinct context. Lean on one another, lean on who you like. It’s been a tricky course of, I’m not going to lie.”
Within the wake of the retirement, teammates from each cease have praised Rubio for his skills on the court docket, however much more for the teammate and pal he was off of it.
“I’m gonna miss him on the court docket, however he’s a pal endlessly,” Devin Booker instructed reporters in Phoenix. “Though it was only one yr, it was so impactful to my profession.”
“That’s my championship, I’ll say,” Rubio stated. “I’d slightly be seen as individual than an important participant. On the finish of the day, what individuals will keep in mind is who you’re and the way you make them really feel, not since you play good basketball or dangerous.”
As he has pulled himself again collectively, he has discovered peace and contentment away from the sport. This was the primary Christmas since 2011 that he could possibly be at dwelling in Spain together with his household.
“Issues in life change, however you’re making an attempt to construct recollections,” Rubio stated. “This yr was one of many traditions that I all the time put apart due to basketball. Lastly, I might do it.”
Little by little, Rubio is discovering himself once more. The private enchancment he has made in current weeks solely validates his resolution to carry an finish to his NBA profession.
“Generally I want I might have had a greater NBA profession,” he stated. “Generally I want I might’ve had a championship. Generally I take into consideration my profession, however on the finish of the day, I had numerous enjoyable. I loved it.
“Was there dangerous instances? After all. This isn’t an ideal story. However I discovered lots, I made numerous mates by way of this course of and I grew up lots. I loved basketball lots.”
Whereas his NBA days are over, Rubio has not dominated out a return to the court docket in Europe. Along with his thoughts clearer, he started to consider how his physique would really feel if he laced up the sneakers once more. For all of his trials within the recreation, he’s not able to say his taking part in days are fully accomplished.
“I hope not,” he stated. “Ultimately I need to attempt it out since I’m doing higher, however I’m positive will probably be a distinct me. I’ll put myself first. I’m nonetheless within the restoration means of an enormous shock, however I do know basketball is an enormous a part of who I’m.”
(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; pictures: Christian Petersen, Streeter Lecka / Getty Photos)