Ricky Rubio taking a break from basketball to deal with his mental health / News - Basketnews.com

Ricky Rubio has announced he will be taking some time off his duties as a basketball player to look into his mental health. It's still unknown when and whether the Spanish guard will resume his career.

Credit: YouTube/Cleveland Cavaliers; FIBA Credit YouTube/Cleveland Cavaliers; FIBA

Ricky Rubiohas decided to put his basketball career on hold. The Spanish Basketball Federation transmitted a statement from the Spanish guard, in which Rubio makes clear that he's quitting basketball to take care of his mental health.

Ricard Rubio

Position:PGAge:32Height:193 cmWeight:86 kgBirth place:Barcelona, SpainProfileNewsStatistics

The development comes just three weeks prior to the FIBA World Cup, where Rubio was slated to be present with the Spanish NT. Whether the veteran guard's break will be temporary or permanent remains to be seen.

His full statement:

"I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health. I want to thank the Spanish Federation (FEB) for all the support I have received. They understood my decision. Today #LaFamilia makes more sense than ever. Thank you.

I would ask that my privacy be respected so that I can face these moments and be able to give more information when the time is right".

In the same note, the Spanish Federation expresses "its respect, admiration and affection for Ricky Rubio."

"#LaFamilia will be by the player's side at all times," the announcement concludes.

The Catalan player's return after a year-long absence due to a knee injury had been heralded as the most important update for Spain. The MVP of the World Cup in China had joined Sergio Scariolo's training camp, although he didn't appear in the first friendly game against Venezuela (a neat 87-57 win) last Friday night.

His absence is a major setback for Spain and adds to that of Lorenzo Brown, who finished last season with some medical issues to take care of. Now, Scariolo will have to look for replacements.

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