Ricky Rubio is playing basketball again, this time for the club where his professional journey first began nearly two decades ago.
After stepping away from basketball to focus on his mental health, the 34-year-old Spanish guard has officially signed with Joventut Badalona, the team he debuted with as a 14-year-old back in 2005.
El 9 de la @Penya1930 ya está en su casa.
💚 RICKY RUBIO 🖤#LigaEndesa | @rickyrubio9 pic.twitter.com/yiEyeFav7B
— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) July 23, 2025
“What I do know is that I’m going to enjoy it immensely. I already have the result – for me, I’ve already won by playing again with joy, with the excitement and thrill I felt yesterday from receiving all the love I’ve been given,” Rubio said during his first press conference this week.
The comeback comes after a season off, following a short stint with FC Barcelona in early 2024.
Now, he’s embracing the next chapter in Badalona – not to chase accolades, but to rediscover joy on the court.
“I’m ready to take on a new challenge. Do we know how it will go? No idea, but what I do know is that I’m going to enjoy it immensely,” he added.
Rubio announced his retirement from the NBA in January 2024. Over 12 seasons with the Timberwolves, Jazz, Suns, and Cavaliers, the crafty playmaker averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals across 698 games, shooting 38.8 percent from the field.
Despite announcing what many believed was a farewell just last month, Rubio’s love for the game has pulled him back in.
For NBA fans who watched him dazzle with behind-the-back passes and lockdown defense, this return is something worth celebrating.
Rubio’s comeback isn’t about legacy. It’s about passion. And by his own words, just being back is already a win.
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