Ricky Rubio plays his first game for Barcelona after retiring from NBA / News - Basketnews.com

Rubio scored 5 points in his first game in the EuroLeague for Barcelona after declaring his retirement from the NBA earlier in the season.

Credit: Josep Lago/AFP - Scanpix Credit Josep Lago/AFP - Scanpix

After more than six months without playing a single game of professional club basketball to focus on his mental issues, Ricky Rubio returned to the court to play his first official game for FC Barcelona.

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

Rubio started the game on the bench and came in during the first minutes of the second quarter. The player was met with loud ovations from the Spanish supporters in the Palau Blaugrana arena.

A few minutes later, the Spanish guard scored his first points in the EuroLeague since 2011.

Rubio drove to the basket and hit a subtle turnaround jumper from the paint. After getting subbed out, the 33-year-old later appeared on the court only in the third quarter, when he made an and-one, hyping the local Palau Blaugrana crowd.

Overall, Rubio played just over 11 minutes on the court and registered 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist during the playing time.

It was not a successful debut for Rubio, as Barcelona ended up losing to Monaco at home, 67-77.

The game between Barcelona andAS Monacocould've been special in another way as well, as former NBA guardMike Jamescould've become EuroLeague's all-time highest scorer, but he scored less than the required 27 points to achieve it.

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

In the two games for the Spanish national team, Rubio averaged 7.5 points 2.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in 16.8 minutes per game.

Before returning to the EuroLeague, Rubio announced his retirement from the NBA following his step away from the game due to mental issues.

"I developed a chronic stress, something similar to an anxiety disorder. The only way to come back was to understand why I got to this point," Rubio said recently.

"The player ate the person. I didn't know who I was. It was a difficult moment for me. I had fear. You are able to handle your fears and play them down. Life is full of greys. But I have saved myself, and now I am at ease. I am proud of myself, and I give basketball a new chance," the star guard concluded before his debut with Barca.

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