By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After missing the action in the NBA and with the Spanish national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Ricky Rubio returned to the court first in the EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers and then signed with Barcelona, making his comeback to the EuroLeague.
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Ending the season with the Catalan side, not making it to the Final Four and losing in the ACB Semi-Finals against Real Madrid, the experienced 33-year-old playmaker wasn’t included by Sergio Scariolo in the team’s list for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, per his own request.
Interviewed by Relevo, the Italian head coach commented on the point guard’s attitude, addressing his way of distinguish himself from other basketball players. “He has an important quality. In a selfishness world, because we live in a selfishness society and in an selfishness era generally speaking, and in high-level sport which keeps being a world with a lot of centrifugal force by the player for its own interest, money, stats, Ricky [Rubio] is actually different“, Sergio Scariolo first said.
“He’s a player who’s able to prove with facts that he cares more about the others. He’s not unique in this, obviously, but with superstars it’s a little bit more complicated. Especially in the NBA, an extremely individual world”, he continued. “Seeing the respect and attachment he has gained, playing in a way his teammates perceive his primary goal is for the whole world to feel comfortable”; he added.
Sergio Scariolo commented about the player’s ability of translating his way of playing basketball on the court to off the court’s appointments and duties. “This way of seeing life on the court he’s also able to translate it off the court as well, being somebody willing to help the others”, the Spanish national team’s veteran head coach also commented about Ricky Rubio’s attitude in life.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2025 EuroBasket Qualifiers