Ricky Rubio sat alone in a hotel room in 2023, staring at the ceiling and feeling the weight of 13 NBA seasons crashing down on him. The Spanish point guard who had dazzled fans with his court vision was losing sight of something far more important: his reason to keep going.
What Led Rubio to His Darkest Mental Health Crisis?
In a raw and powerful interview on the Spanish show Lo de Evole, Rubio shared the depth of the emotional spiral he faced at the height of his mental health crisis. The former NBA star peeled back the curtain on a moment in 2023 when he found himself at his lowest point, sitting in that hotel room with thoughts that terrified him.
“Just a very difficult thought and I don’t want to magnify it at all, but one of the nights I was in the hotel I said ‘I don’t want to continue-not with basketball, with life’,” Rubio revealed.
The thought lasted only seconds, but it scared him enough to recognize that something inside was slipping out of his control. Despite having a family and a son who needed him, the darkness had momentarily taken over.
“I have a family, I have a son… But I thought about it for a second, to notice that something was taking control of myself. I can understand many people… who say that they cannot continue, because there is a moment when everything weighs so heavily on you.”
Ricky Rubio opens up about his mental health struggles:
“One night, I was in a hotel and said ‘I don’t want to continue anymore.’ I’m not talking about basketball, but about life. There are moments when everything is so hard…I thought my life had no meaning”
via @bogdan99913 pic.twitter.com/CPHrmz1KFR
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) July 5, 2025
His words carried the pain of someone who had long shouldered burdens in silence. Even his greatest triumph couldn’t lift the fog. Rubio recalled winning the 2019 FIBA World Cup with Spain, where he earned MVP honors, not as a moment of celebration but as a time of emotional emptiness.
“I remember in the World Cup when I say ‘unemployment’ it seems that I am dying and that my life has no meaning.”
That internal conflict reveals the quiet battles that can exist behind even the most visible careers. Success on the court couldn’t fill the void he felt inside, a struggle made worse by his difficulty connecting with others.
“I didn’t make friends, just teammates,” Rubio said of his time in the NBA.
This emotional isolation, combined with years of physical setbacks, created a perfect storm for his mental health struggles. Rubio tore his left ACL twice, once in 2012 and again in 2021, while also battling ongoing ankle and hip problems that limited his effectiveness.
Though he maintained solid production as a playmaker throughout his career, averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 assists per game, the constant grind had worn him down both physically and mentally. The game that once brought him joy had become a source of pain.
How Did Rubio’s Career Journey Shape His Mental Health Battle?
Rubio’s path to NBA stardom began with incredible promise. He made his professional debut in Spain’s Liga ACB at just 14 years old, later becoming one of the youngest players ever to compete in the EuroLeague. His talent was undeniable from the start.
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected him fifth overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, though he didn’t join the league until 2011. Over the next 12 seasons, Rubio played for four teams: the Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, and Cleveland Cavaliers, establishing himself as a reliable floor general wherever he went.
However, behind the impressive resume, one EuroLeague title, and World Cup MVP honors was a man increasingly disconnected from the joy that basketball once brought him. The pressure of performing at the highest level, combined with his natural tendency toward isolation, created a dangerous combination.
The breaking point came in 2023 when Rubio made the difficult decision to step away from the NBA to focus on his mental health. The Cavaliers later bought out his contract, allowing him to return quietly to Spain, where his journey had begun decades earlier.
In 2024, Rubio signed with FC Barcelona, coming full circle to the team where his professional career first took flight. But this return represented more than just a homecoming. It was a chance to rediscover his love for the game while prioritizing his mental well-being.
Rubio’s willingness to share his darkest moments now serves a greater purpose than any assist or victory ever could. His story gives voice to the struggles that so many athletes and people face behind closed doors, reminding us to pay attention to the quiet ones who smile for cameras and say they’re fine even when they’re drowning inside.
