Ricky Rubio to train with FC Barcelona

Ricky Rubio will be teaming up with the Barça basketball team from Tuesday from Tuesday after making an announcement that "I have reached the final stage of my recovery."

Last summer he decided to put a pause on his pro career due to mental problems. His time in the NBA ended on January 4 when his ties with the Cleveland Cavaliers were severed. "After many weeks working on my body and mind, I feel keen and strong enough to see how I feel with a ball in my hands" he said. "My next step has been to ask FC Barcelona if I can, with no obligations and without interrupting their plans for the season, to train with them."

Rubio was at Barça from 2009 to 2011 and after 12 years in the United States, and now 33 years of age, he is returning to the Palau Blaugrana to exercise under Roger Grimau, and will be joining the training session in which the team will be preparing for the EuroLeague game with Virtus Segafredo Bologna at the Palau on Wednesday at 8.30pm CET.

Ricky Rubio statement

Hello everyone. 

I wanted to say these words because I have reached the final phase of my recovery.

I have been thinking it over for weeks, and after many weeks working on my body and mind, I feel keen and strong enough to see how I feel with a ball in my hands.

My next step has been to ask FC Barcelona if I can, with no obligations and without interrupting their plans for the season, to train with them. I would like to say thank you in advance for their help and understanding with my situation.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has shown their respect and support for me throughout this process, and also thank everyone for respecting my privacy on this journey.

Eight trophies and 140 games for Barça

Ricky Rubio's haul of eight trophies at Barça included two Copas del Rey, one Liga ACB (10/11) and one EuroLeague (09/10), the latter the second of the club's two continental titles, when the captain was Roger Grimau, now head coach. Another of his team-mates, Juan Carlos Navarro, is now manager, while Víctor Sada is back at the club as assistant coach.

In total, Rubio played 140 competitive matches for FC Barcelona.

American dream

Born in 1990 in the coastal town just north of El Masnou, Ricky Rubio started out with Joventut Badalona, where he made his ACB debut when he was just 14. He was the number 5 pick in the NBA Draft of 2009, but spent two years at FC Barcelona before he eventually crossed the Atlanitic to play 712 games in his 12 seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although his progress was twice interrupted by knee issues (2012 and 2021), Rubio certainly made his mark on the NBA, leading the competition for steals in three separate seasons and gaining international acclaim.

International glory

Rubio played for Spain at all youth levels and was in the silver medal winning side at the Beijing Olympics and the gold medal winning side at the 2019 World Championships, where he was MVP.

He was also a European champion with Spain in 2009 and 2011, bronze medallist in the same competition in 2013 and 2017 and was also a medallist at the Rio Olympics of 2016.