Ricky Rubio reacts to his first EuroLeague game after long break / News - Basketnews.com

Ricky Rubio returned to professional basketball with FC Barcelona, contributing 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in a EuroLeague game against AS Monaco, expressing the challenges and joys of resuming play after a ten-month hiatus.

Credit: AFP - Scanpix Credit AFP - Scanpix

After a break of more than ten months, Ricky Rubio has returned to professional club basketball, stepping onto the court for FC Barcelona in his first official game. The match, however, ended in a home loss against AS Monaco with a score of 67-77.

Player of the Game EFF 20 Donta Hall Points 10 Accuracy 5-5 Rebounds 7 Assists 1

During the EuroLeague Round 27, Rubio spent over 11 minutes on the court and contributed 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. The Spanish guard scored his first points in the EuroLeague since 2011.

"It's special to play here [at Palau Blaugrana]," Rubio said after the game, via Marc Mundet. "In comparison, it's a small gym but very cozy, and in the big moments, it becomes scary [for opponents]. It was a difficult game because of the emotions. I tried to control it. But I'm happy to be back to play."

Before playing for Barca, Rubio previously represented the Spanish national team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers window, where the reigning EuroBasket champions lost both games -- first, against Latvia and then against Belgium.

In these national team appearances, Rubio averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in 16.8 minutes.

"The game routine has been completely different," he admitted. "I'd been able to take my son to school and then go for coffee with friends. It's something that when you don't have it, you miss it a lot.

"But I'm sure in a couple or three weeks, I'll be back to normal," Rubio assured. "The knee [injury]? I'm guiding the ship, both physically and mentally."

Rubio's decision to return to FC Barcelona was influenced by his positive relationships with key members of the team, including general manager Juan Carlos Navarro, head coach Roger Grimau, and teammates like Willy Hernangomez, Alex Abrines, Dario Brizuela, and Joel Parra.

He also expressed a keen interest in connecting with former NBA forward Jabari Parker, highlighting their shared experiences with severe knee injuries.

"I wanted to meet Jabari. He is a player who has also suffered a lot from knee injuries," Rubio said. "He has a lot of talent, and I think I can help him."

Barcelona-Monaco highlights:

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