Former Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio is putting his career on hold.
Pro sports is a hard beast to deal with on an everyday basis. We’ve seen athletes speak out about this in recent years, and it’s become even more toxic due to the importance of things like social media. It feels like everyone’s out to get you at times, and when you’re facing constant criticism it can wear you down.
While we’re not sure if it’s the pressures of the job, we do know that former Utah Jazz point guard, Ricky Rubio, is stepping away from the game for the time being.
Rubio announced on Saturday that he was stepping away from the Spanish National Team weeks before it tries to win the FIBA World Cup. The current Cleveland Cavaliers point guard stated that he was heading home to spend time with his family, saying (via Brian Windhorst of ESPN)
"I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health. I want to thank all the support I have received from the [Spanish national] team to understand my decision. Today #family makes more sense than ever. Thank you. I would ask that my privacy be respected so that I can face these moments and be able to give more information when the time is right."
Rubio, who missed most of the 2021-2022 season due to a torn ACL, returned to the Cavs in 2022-2023, after being dealt by the Cavs to the Indiana Pacers after his injury. He never played for the Pacers. Rubio was expected to be the catalyst for the Spanish National Team but that seems to be off the table for right now.
Rubio famously came to Salt Lake City to play for the Utah Jazz in 2017 as part of a trade, and he started every game he played with the franchise, before leaving for Phoenix in the offseason.
During his time in Utah, Rubio averaged 12.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, all while posting some of the best shooting stats in his career, shooting 41.2% from the floor, 33.2% from three, and 86.1% from the free throw line.