Ricky Rubio, former NBA player and prominent Spanish basketball figure, opened up in an extensive interview with Jordi Évole on the Spanish television program "Lo de Évole" about his struggles with mental health and the pressures of elite sports. Rubio revealed that in 2023, he experienced suicidal thoughts, stating, "One night I said I don't want to continue, not with basketball anymore, with life." He discussed the toll that his obsession with improvement and the demands of professional basketball took on his personal life, including leaving his wife and newborn son in Phoenix shortly after the birth to play games abroad. Rubio reflected on his early career, starting as a teenager with Joventut de Badalona and later joining the Minnesota Timberwolves, and how he was advised not to show weaknesses publicly. He expressed a desire to play basketball purely for enjoyment, without the pressures associated with his name and career, saying, "I’d like to play basketball without being Ricky Rubio." Despite these challenges, he continues to participate in amateur basketball leagues with friends to recapture the joy of the sport. Rubio also cited Pau Gasol as a career benchmark and shared insights into his competitive mindset, noting that he always expects to lose to motivate himself. His candid revelations highlight the complex relationship between mental health and professional sports.