Rubio: “I won’t play in the EuroBasket”

2021 ended in the worst possible way for Ricky Rubio, who was injured badly in the Cleveland Cavaliers game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The fears were quickly confirmed, the report referred to a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.

For such injuries, return to action is estimated to take six to eight months. However, in an interview with “La Vanguardia” he said that he will not strengthen the Spanish national team in the EuroBasket, which will be played in the first days of September – that is, in nine months.

“I can already say that I won’t be taking part in the EuroBasket this summer. But I will definitely return to the National at some point‘ was the essence of his remarks on a topic considered to be burning in the ‘Rocha’ as we talk about the MVP of the 2019 World Cup.

However, in everything to do with the injury and its aftermath, he conceded that “My frustration lasted a day. I got hurt, what to do? We have to put things in order. Let’s not forget that we are all suffering from the pandemic“.

From there, he answered a question about the (recent) rumors surrounding his name in swap scenarios: “That’s fun too. Yesterday, for example, I texted my agent and asked him if these rumors would ever leave me alone, at least now that I’m hurt. Of course that is part of the job. You feel bad for putting your all into a team and then you see what happened with Phoenix and Minnesota, they swap you out without even letting you know. But I’ve gotten used to it personally. Whenever February approaches, these rumors pop up“.

Finally, in another important part of the interview he gave, he mentioned the possibility of returning to Europe for a collective level.

“When my son, who is now two years old, starts school, there will be no more NBA for me. I have to go back to Spain. I don’t want him going back and forth because by the age of six he should start making friends. My wife and I are aware of this. The time will come when basketball will no longer be my priorityhe answered characteristically.

As you can see, Ricky Rubio has four years (maximum) left in the NBA after capping his return to Europe at the age of 35. Of course, if he still wants to play… He is currently in his final year of contract having received $17,800,000 for 2021-22.