Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio could leave the NBA soon.
The 32-year-old playmaker admitted as much in a recent interview Liga Endesa, noting that he plans to go back to Europe to continue his playing career as his “NBA days are coming to an end.”
Rubio didn’t exactly reveal when he plans to leave the league. He has two years left on his contract with the Cavs, so he’s expected to at least finish it off before going back home where it all started for him. Nonetheless, it’s definitely a rather surprising revelation from the Spaniard who seems to have plenty left in his tank.
“My idea when I left Europe to play in the NBA is to come back one day. I don’t know where I’ll be mentally and physically, and if I’ll still want to keep playing, but yeah my NBA days are coming to an end,” Rubio shared.
It’s understandable why Ricky Rubio is already thinking about his future and what’s next beyond the NBA, though. After an ACL injury in 2021 cut his season short, he struggled to return to his old form when he came back in the second half of the 2022-23 season. Following their playoff exit, he then shared that he was never able to go back to 100 percent following the health setback.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Rubio also did hint recently that he’s already thinking about leaving the NBA and returning to Barcelona where he can continue his basketball career.
“I am starting to consider my return. Going home. To Barcelona. Close to home,” the Cavs guard furthered.
Whenever Rubio decides to leave the NBA, he’ll always be remembered as one of the best passers of his generation. Hopefully, before that happens, he can compete for an NBA title with Cleveland.