Former NBA point guard Ricky Rubio will begin his studies with Barcelona on Tuesday, the Catalan club announced on Monday, as the Spaniard prepares to return to the basketball courts after announcing he is entering the final phase of his intellectual healing.
Rubio, who missed most of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers recovering from a torn ACL, retired from the NBA in January after stepping away from the franchise in August due to mental health concerns.
“After several weeks of compromising reflections and paintings on my brain and body, I find myself with the preference and strength to see how I react with a ball in my hands,” Rubio, 33, said in a post on the social media platform.
“My next step has been to ask FC Barcelona if I could, with no obligations and without interrupting their plans for the season, train with them.”
Born in El Masnou, in the province of Barcelona, Rubio played 140 official games for Barça between 2009 and 2011, winning two Spanish Cups, a league title and a Euroleague.