Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio, the MVP of the 2019 FIBA World Cup, won’t be participating in the 2023 World Cup this summer, announcing in a statement through the Spanish Basketball Federation (Twitter link) that he’s taking a break from basketball to focus on his mental health.
“I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health,” Rubio said. “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’s Spanish teammates Willy Hernangomez, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull were among those who took to social media to post messages in support of his decision, while Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo wrote in depth about Rubio.
“In La Familia, people have always come before results,” Scariolo said. “All my love and support to Ricky, and my admiration for his transparency and, through it, his ability once again to lead by example.”
The decision to release the news through the Spanish Basketball Federation – rather than the Cavaliers – suggests that, for now, Rubio’s hiatus will only affect the national team. But with no timeline specified for his return to basketball, there’s no guarantee he’ll be available this fall for Cleveland. Of course, Rubio’s mental well-being comes before basketball.
Rubio, 32, is a 12-year NBA veteran who has made 712 total appearances (614 starts) across the regular season and playoffs. The Spanish guard began his career as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Timberwolves. He stayed in Spain for a couple more seasons before suiting up for Minnesota in 2011. After departing the Wolves, Rubio made stops in Utah and Phoenix before rejoining the Timberwolves in 2020/21. Following that season, Rubio was acquired by Cleveland via trade.
The veteran guard hasn’t yet played a full season with the Cavaliers. Rubio tore his ACL in December 2021 after appearing in 34 games for Cleveland and thus, wasn’t able to make his ’22/23 debut until January 2023.
Wonder how missing those game checks from the nba will affect his mental health or if the Cavs will be forced to cut those checks anyways. Or if mental health is only affected by playing in Europe
You’re an idiot dude. When has Ricky ever given you the impression that he wouldn’t be honest about his mental state?
As for the last comment, hasn’t it only been US born players playing in the US have have had “mental issues”.
Suggesting that Rubio just wants to stay home and collect a check by using mental health as an excuse is just ignorant.
Could just be going through a divorce or bad break up and needs time away from basketball. Could also be going through a death of a parent or relative. People need to give him space and work it out like how the Warriors did for Wiggins when his father came down with cancer. Its a shame people think its about money
The death of his mother in 2016 affected him a lot (and for a long time). I guess suffering the last injury when he was playing some of the best ball of his career may have taken too a heavy toll on him… perhaps it was the last straw. Anyway, whatever the issue is, I hope he manages to get over it.
@ARC 2 Thank you for tour comment.
That is what is wrong with most people today, they’re unable to use perspective and simply just don’t care for their fellow man.
Wishing Rubio the best, this couldn’t have been an easy decision for him to make, but I’m glad he’s putting his health first.
I just hope he’s able to get the help he needs, and he’s able to find happiness again.
@richarde When Wiggins was going through his time off some Warrior fans were bashing him for hurting the team. Its a shame people think they are robots not a human being.
“As for the last comment” the two most prominent players with mental health issues in the most recent past have not been “US born players.” Both Simmons and Wiggins are from Canada
jeezis, net worth only 8 mil.
That’s a loaded comment for someone who has shown himself to be a great teammate everywhere he has been.
He didn’t retire from the NBA. So he won’t be missing any checks. He has 10 million guaranteed left from the Cavs (NBA) and he will get all of it.
He said “professional” activity but only mentioned the “national” organization and national (LaFamilia) team members.
Idk why people don’t know how to read between lines. I guess that BS like having to understand Chaucer in school actually has value.
They dont teach critical thinking
If I had millionaire problems my mental health would be amazing. These guys would crumble if they had to deal with the things regular Joe’s go through.
As the late great minstrel Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.I.G. wrote in the timeless ballad Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems. “I don’t know what they want from me. It’s like the more money we come across
The more problems we see.”
If you could live your same life that you do today and have millions, I’m sure you’re right.
You would also crumble if you went through what they go through. Constant scrutiny, long injury recoveries, finding a home and then the next day being dealt to a new city in which you have to pack up, find a place to live and potentially move your family in less than a week.
Always remember, money is both a blessing and a curse.
If you showed up to your job every day and tens of thousands of people showed up to judge everything you did, I’m sure you’d crumble too.
Take their salaries out of the equation too because if your only comeback is “if I made that kind of money, I’d be happy” then your self-worth only comes from the income you bring in which is kinda pathetic honestly.
I know people who have been on both ends. The wealthy deal with everything from people trying to scam or guilt them out of money to ridiculous taxes to frivolous lawsuits to bad investments. Not that I wouldn’t want to experience being rich. I’m just saying they don’t always have things perfect.
Especially with the celebrity status attached to it. If I could get rich without anyone except immediate family knowing, sign me up lol.
You sound exactly like the type of person no matter how wealthy they were who would still struggle with mental health problems. You just don’t get it (not that I disagree it would be nice to have the cushion of millions of dollars).
Big difference between “Mental Health” and being “Mentally Weak”. But I suppose being mentally weak is a mental illness. Could you imagine your Grandparents generation needing time off to focus on “mental health”.
If they showed any mental deviation from the norm, that generation got sent to an asylum. Where they were subjected to sh*t like electroshock “therapy”.
Tough guy
Recall if you will, the person in charge of the Timberpuppies in 2009, (DAVID K-A-H-N), after taking Ricky Rubio at #5, took Point Guard Jonny Flynn at #6 who’s NBA career lasted all of 3 years.(this was part of the return from the Celtics for Kevin Garnett along with 5 other rather forgettable players).
This stupidity “GAVE” the Golden State Warriors the opportunity to draft some guy named Stephen Curry.
I wonder what ever happened to his NBA career?
The Timberpuppies had TWO MORE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS THAT YEAR:
#18 =PG Ty Lawson – who never played for them…
Traded to the Nuggets for a 2010 1st Round Draft Pick, #16
Used that pick to select SF Luke Babbitt
Who never played for them.
He was traded to the Trailblazers along with Ryan Gomes for
SF Martell Webster, who lasted 2 years in MN then was waived.
Webster’ career lasted 3 more years with the Wizards before he was waived by them in 2015 – but he was still “rewarded” by the Wizards with an additional $8,110,166 from 2016 thru 2019 for NOT PLAYING FOR THEM. Shortly after signing with New Orleans in 2017, hip issues forced his retirement from the NBA.
#28 = SG Wayne Ellington, who lasted 3 years in MN, plus another 10 years elsewhere in the NBA, and was then traded to Memphis for Pf-SF Daunte Cunningham, (drafted #33 in the 2009 draft by Portland) who lasted 2 years in MN before becoming a Free Agent and moving on for 5 more NBA seasons with a variety of teams.
With their TWO SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICKS:
#45 = SG Nick Calathes (partial compensation for 2008 trade of Mario Chambers) who was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks for a 2010 2nd Round Draft Choice, used to draft (WHO) Magnum Rolle. Nick played 2 seasons for Memphis after being traded by Dallas and retired in 2015.
#47 = C (Hardware) Henk Norel (partial compensation for 2008 trade of PG Mario Chambers) NEVER PLAYED IN THE NBA.
Chambers played 9 seasons in the NBA for Miami & Memphis.
WHEW !!
No one wants to read this word vomit
The thought of living in Cleveland does this to a man.
He signed a second contract to play there but good joke I guess
I suspect that the thought of losing his summer vacation was traumatizing to him. I wouldn’t read too much into this. I think he just needs a full summer off his feet for his torn ACL to fully heal. He was clearly not all the way back when he returned last winter. He will face a difficult training camp as the Cavaliers have signed 2 additional point guards who could challenge him for minutes. I think he is using the time to mentally recharge so he is not a drag on the teams playoff push. Like he was this Spring. Not all mental health breaks mean a person is in crisis. I think he just wants a full summer so he can get focused for next season.
After a few of these comments about one’s mental health, I have to check the calendar to make sure it’s 2023. The idea that someone with an incredible career and money can’t be afflicted with mental issues; that being well paid should negate any mental issues; that taking time out to address said mental issues is a sign of weakness blah blah blah – it’s such a tired old way of seeing the world and the pressures and issues we’re all subjected to. Good luck Ricky, I hope you find the peace and answers you’re looking for.
Hear, hear. So many keyboard warriors here who just hide behind anonymity like cowards so they can get off on criticizing someone they’ll never know.
There are some folks who will always be jealous of and compare themselves to others, never being satisfied but often being hypocritical in the process. For instance, I know extended family who complain about government handouts and help for the poor, but have no issues doing legally dubious things to get themselves ahead. Not surprisingly, they see no issues with judging others while failing to apply those same standards to themselves. I would consider that a mental health issue in and of itself.
Yes, in a perfect world we would all have the safety cushion that wealth would provide. That certainly would help in various ways. At the same time, many things in life involve trade-offs, and that includes being a famous athlete or celebrity. Frankly, in this age of social media I may prefer to be middle class than a famous person having my every move analyzed and needing to play that type of game. To each their own, of course.
The “So long as I get mine screw everyone else outside of my orbit” attitude so many have is disheartening. It doesn’t need to be that way and serves no purpose other than to pit us vs them in a way that does nothing to improve society. And it’s made all the more ironic by so many of these same folks stumping for politicians who couldn’t care less about them.
In any event, I wish Rubio the best as well. Hopefully, he can get to a place where he is happy and healthy, no matter where it leads him.
I wasn’t suggesting he lacks real mental problems. Only that in his 30’s after a serious physical injury he felt he could no longer burn the candle at both ends.when your young it never occurs to you that there simply isn’t time for everything. I suspect that when it came time to suit up for the World Cup he felt a need for a little more time with his family before going back to the game. I suspect that need was both physical and mental. It is none of my business if he is having a crisis or not. Most of us take a mental health day now and then. This is more like a mental health month but he has made enough money that he could decide he’s done playing if he wants. Most of us can only take a day or so. That said I have no idea what his difficulties are or how long they will persist. I am a Cavaliers fan but it is only August. If he needs more time when camp comes we’ll just have to cross that bridge then.I know that JB generally uses the players he has come to trust in training camp and no one else. If Rubio isn’t there it means both Jerome and Porter are more likely to see game time during the year. That’s likely better for the team both in the short term and the long run. Porter has immense talent on defense and can score a bit too. Ty Jerome shoots well and passes well. JB can teach him defense. A 6’5″ point guard could allow the team options they now lack. I hope Rubio does what is best for him. If that means his job is gone when he returns That’s fine. If however he returns and plays well that too is fine. I’d hate to see him return mentally or physically unwell if by waiting he’d have been better off. The team’s as deep as it has ever been so there’s no need for Rubio to rush back. And if doors close while he’s gone I’m sure others will open for him. That sounds passive aggressive but it’s not. The team is better off if we develop Porter or Jerome anyways. With Love and many of the others from fall 2021 gone Rubio’s time may have passed. That said a quality point guard is always welcome.
Why do t you just stop trying to answer for him. And let him tell you when he wants to. It’s not your life. Why even have an opinion now. We will all know the truth soon enough.
Basketball wise the Cavs need him as a backup. So I would hope he gets it together sooner rather than later.
Rubio has always been a good guy. Wish him the best.
The Cavaliers do need a backup point guard. Though it doesn’t have to be Rubio. In the long run the team is better off if either Jerome or CPJ rise into that role. Most title winning teams have 2 or 3 point guards that can start for most teams. As far as how long Rubio is out I’m no fortune teller. That said his absence could speed up the development of Jerome and CPJ. Players improve through playing. Extra playing time will allow both to grow. That said when Garland is hurt they play LeVert and put Mitchell at the point.
Did Ben Simmons really beat up these many children?
So many triggered responses over someone needing time for their mental health…
I have no words for them…
As for Ricky… Wish him all the best, being able to keep a smile on his face during all those years in Minnesota proves he can get through the hard times life will throw at you…