Ricky Rubio to take a break from basketball, focus on mental health

Ricky Rubio to take a break from basketball, focus on mental health

Ricky Rubio is taking a step away from professional basketball after 12 NBA seasons, plus seven additional international seasons in Spain, to focus on his mental health, he announced via the Spanish Basketball Federation early Saturday morning.

“I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health,” Rubio said in the statement. “I want to thank all the support I have received from the FEB (Federación Española de Baloncesto) to understand my decision. Today #LaFamilia makes more sense than ever. Thank you. I ask to respect my privacy to be able to face these moments and to be able to give more information when the time is right.”

Rubio, 32, appeared in 698 games (603 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves (in two separate stints), Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 29.6 minutes, in addition to 14 playoff games (11 starts) in three seasons.

He averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 assists in 17.2 minutes across 33 games with the Cavaliers last season, shooting 34.3 percent from the floor after coming back from a torn ACL injury, suffered in 2021-22, in January.

Arguably his best season came in 2016-17 with Minnesota, where he posted 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.7 steals on 40.2 percent shooting. He accumulated a career-best 17.6 PER with a 53.9 true-shooting percentage, also a career-best.

Rubio, the No. 5 overall pick by the Wolves back in 2009, has two years and $12.6 million left on his contract with a $6.2 million cap hit for 2023-24, per Spotrac. There is no timetable set for his return. We wish for the best with you and your recovery, Ricky!

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