Marc Mundet, Ricky Rubio and Gerard Romero after the interview in Jijantes FC.
The point guard from El Masnou gave his first interview to Jijantes FC after announcing his return to the court.
When everything seemed to be leading to his retirement, Ricky Rubio decided to keep playing basketball. In July, he announced his return to Joventut 16 years later, and now he chooses Jijantes FC for his first interview at his own foundation, the ‘Ricky Rubio Foundation’. “I feel much more confident about many things,” the Catalan guard admits.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself during all this time,” Ricky explains. “I think I’m doing something good by talking about it. Sharing is how I’ve freed myself.” Ricky Rubio is not the only one who has dealt with mental health issues. DeMar DeRozan or Kevin Love are some of the most well-known cases and have even gone public. “In the NBA, you’re supposed to be like a superhero, and emotions are supposed to be hidden. Riding the wave is one of the phrases I’ve tried to apply the most.”
Ricky Rubio, during the interview.
In this sense, the Catalan point guard admitted that “playing basketball only made sense if there was something beyond” and that his return to Joventut is meant to be his final stop to leave a legacy. “Since I left Penya, basketball has felt like a job. I’m not looking for a second childhood. I want to leave here what I’ve learned. I haven’t set expectations for playing at a certain level because I don’t know what level I’m at.”
Ricky Rubio added that “for now,” his relationship with Joventut will be “as a player. We’ll see how it evolves.” He doesn’t see his future tied to Penya the same way Marc Gasol is with Girona. “I feel lucky not to have to work, and I wouldn’t want to waste my children’s time on other things. But I would like to help them off the court. I offer my many years of NBA experience so they can benefit from it.”
Precocity
His is a unique case of a child prodigy in an adult world. Over 20 years later, he reflects on his beginnings as a player. “I don’t think a child’s brain is ready for what’s coming. But how do you tell a 14-year-old to stop? That wave is a tsunami. I lived it the best I could. I was lucky to have the support I had,” he says to Jijantes FC.
“A child shouldn’t be in a locker room with adults, hearing certain things. Their brain should be focused on education and growth. There should be a law to protect them,” the Masnou native stresses. “Everything has its timing. You can’t skip that stage. If you can’t drive at 16, debuting on a pro team should be regulated.”
