Ricky Rubio said goodbye to the NBA world just a few months ago after deciding to focus on his mental health over his basketball career.
The former Cleveland Cavaliers star sent a heartfelt farewell to fans but he didn’t dive too much into his personal life and the mental health struggles that led him to retirement.
Speaking with The Athletic, Rubio still didn’t divulge too much information but he did suggest that things got really bad for him.
“I have goose bumps thinking about those days when everything was dark,” he said.
Ricky Rubio isn't yet ready to publicly address his struggles.
His wounds are healing, but there is still work he is doing to climb out of the hole he was in.
What he can say right now is just how deep in the hole he was.https://t.co/OGTZmcU1Ih pic.twitter.com/tczhK9wRds
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 29, 2024
Rubio also told The Athletic that he had “something clouding my mind that I couldn’t get over” throughout his career.
It is now very clear that he was battling some incredibly tough problems as he was also forging an exciting legacy in the NBA.
Rubio earned a career average of 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
A lightning-fast guard known for his ballhandling and ability to create impressive assists, Rubio was an asset to multiple teams.
He started in his home country of Spain before making a splash with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
From there, he moved to the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Timberwolves again, and finally the Cavaliers.
When other players speak about Rubio, they touch upon his caring personality and his desire to help others and mentor younger players.
He has had an impact on many up-and-coming stars throughout the NBA.
Now that Rubio has retired, he will be able to tend to his health and family and will hopefully be in a much better place mentally.
And as he speaks about his struggles more and more, he will help others who are suffering from the same troubles.
NEXT: Donovan Mitchell Makes His Thoughts Clear On All-Star Snub
