"I never fell in love with the U.S. culture, the NBA has become a business" - Ricky Rubio shares why he was disappointed in the NBA
Ricky Rubio's rise to stardom had its roots in humble beginnings, launching when he made his professional debut for Joventut in Spain's ACB League, just before turning 15.
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By the age of 19, he was already the starting point guard for a national team featuring Pau and Marc Gasol, stepping in for Jose Calderon. At the same time, he was preparing for the NBA, having been selected fifth overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, picked ahead of Stephen Curry. Things were going fast for Rubio, to say the least.
In an interview for Spanish Lo de Evole, Rubio opened up about that period of his career and how difficult it truly was for him.
"Did I really want this? I think I did. But the question is how much of it came from pressure," he said. "As a kid, I dreamed of playing my entire career for Joventut. I would have played 15 minutes from home, surrounded by friends — that's what I gave up for the NBA. Sure, my career was great, but maybe I would've been happier as a person."
"In Minnesota, I lived with my best friend. One night we went out to dinner and I didn't say a single word for an hour, because I was thinking about a loss. That's something I regret. I didn't make friends, just teammates," the Spanish playmaker added. "Because of my personality, it's hard for me to open up... Convos in the locker room, 'What kind of car do you drive?'—they meant nothing to me. That doesn't make you a better person."
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"I was a star in Minneapolis; it was the early days of YouTube, which helped. I had to create a persona, even though I didn't want to. I never fell in love with U.S. culture, but the NBA became a show and a business. The love for basketball has been lost, and that's spreading to Europe. What do I carry from the U.S.? A list of things I would never do," Rubio continued.
Ricky was affected by the business side of the league
It's clear the harsh business side of the NBA left a deep mark on someone so young. He was far from home, unprepared for what was coming — not just on the court, but in life.
His career started strong as he flirted with a double-double average as a rookie and was widely seen as one of the most entertaining and impactful players on both ends of the court.
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Still, somewhere along the way, his trajectory slowed down. Far from a failed career, but ever since he stepped onto a professional court at 14, the burden on his shoulders had been immense.
Eventually, after 13 years in the league, Rubio snapped, announcing a temporary break from the game due to depression.
"One night, I was in the hotel room, and I just said I don't want to go on. Not with basketball, but with life," Rubio admitted.
Related: "Because making all this money on these kids and not educating them is a travesty" - When Charles Barkley slammed the NCAA's $11B industry for failing student-athletes
The NBA world represented everything he never wanted to be
It's clear that at a crucial time, when he was transitioning from a boy to a man, the behavior of some older teammates left a lasting negative impression that deeply affected his mental state.
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As Rubio himself best described, he grew up in a humble household with strong values. In his eyes, the NBA world represented everything he had never wanted to become. That disconnect ultimately echoed in his performances.
Rubio seems to have won the most important battle — the one off the court, but we never quite got to see the full potential of the gifted floor general on the court.
Related: Rick Fox explains why Kobe never hung out with other teammates: "He was on a course and any minute or day wasted doing something else was going to slow him down getting to that point"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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