Ricky Rubio, who on Friday did not play in his national team’s first friendly on the road to the World Cup in the Philippines, has withdrawn from the national team due to a mental health problem. The announcement has just been made by the Spanish Basketball Federation in a statement. The Cleveland Cavaliers point guard’s participation in the World Cup is ruled out.
“I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health. I want to thank all the support I have received from the FEB to understand my decision. Today #Family makes more sense than ever. Thank you. I would ask that my privacy be respected in order to be able to face these moments and to be able to give more information when the time comes”.
Ricky Rubio, MVP of the last World Cup, had returned to the national team for the first time in the last two seasons after overcoming a serious knee injury. His absence is a sporting debacle for Scariolo‘s team, which also lost Lorenzo Brown, a key player in the gold medal at the last European Championship, due to physical problems. The FEB, with its characteristic tact, has wanted to support the player at this difficult time and respect his time. The World Championship in the Philippines (25 August to 10 September), where he is defending his title, is now the least important thing.
Unwell since Monday
Ricky has been unwell since Monday and he made this known to the FEB officials, who supported him at all times. He disappeared from the team’s activities in Madrid, the physiotherapist who accompanies him left the training camp and was one of the absentees in the game against Venezuela. He was not even at the WiZink Center.
Sporting hole
On the sporting side, which right now is absolutely secondary but which cannot be ignored because of Ricky‘s greatness, the hole is big in a position affected by the resignation (in the form of physical problems) of Lorenzo Brown. Now the FEB, once the blow has healed, will have to act. It can go for Juan Nunez, who has been in the team’s orbit for the last two summers and who has already played against Venezuela, or consider another type of move. Right now he has Alberto Diaz and Jaime Fernandez as point guards. Sergio Llull, who for Scariolo has always been a ‘2’, can also act as a playmaker.
