13 years later, Ricky Rubio was back in the Blaugrana jersey for the Monaco reception at the Palau Blaugrana last night. 11 minutes in shorts for the double R, but above all 2 hours of communion with the Barcelona public who did not expect to see the local child again so quickly. Story from the Catalan capital.
This March 1st should have been a man’s evening: Mike James. With his 4,427 points accumulated in the most prestigious European competition, KD’s BFF was “only” 28 points away from equaling Vassilis Spanoulis’ record and 29 points away from officially becoming the best all-time scorer in the history of the EuroLeague. A nice challenge, especially on FIBA courts, but well within the reach of the best scorer of the season (19.4 points at 42.3% of the Rock’s address).
Mike James is ready. pic.twitter.com/x6MJbe46l1
— Benoît TrashTalk (@We_Want_Tacos) March 1, 2024
The EuroLeague organization had planned a whole protocol which was to put the match on pause to celebrate Monaco’s temperamental scorer and give him the match ball if the record fell in the first half. We like to plan ahead in the EuroLeague. Unfortunately, Mike James seems to have as much desire as for a Leaders Cup quarter-final in Saint-Chamond. The American missed his first four shots and his first two free throws of the evening and was down to 4 points at halftime. The record will await the reception of the Red Star of Belgrade at the Gaston-Médecin hall next Thursday.
But the 8,000 Barcelonans at the Palau did not come to contemplate the perfect contours of Mike James. More than 30 minutes before the interval, the stands were already well stocked to welcome the Masnou niño, beach about ten kilometers north of the city of Gaudí. 13 years after his goodbyes to Spain and a final Liga ACB trophy won against Bilbao on June 14, 2011, Ricky Rubio made his comeback in the striped Barça jersey, with the same number 9 on his back. As if he had always waited for it, knowing that the hour of reunion would come one day or another.
Palau Blaugrana’s ovation for Ricky Rubio, back after 13 years in the NBA ❤️????@TrashTalk_fr pic.twitter.com/4MAtw5FWgI
— Benoît TrashTalk (@We_Want_Tacos) March 1, 2024
When he left the Mediterranean, Ricky Rubio was already an accomplished professional, with more than six seasons under his belt. He returns from Uncle Sam’s country with the same brown hair, a few more tattoos and mental health finally regained although still fragile. At 33, Ricky Rubio is emerging from a long period in obscurity, deciding to leave the Cavaliers and the NBA to recharge his batteries at home in Barcelona.
With clearer ideas, the leader is gradually rediscovering the taste for basketball in an organization that he knows well having attended between 2009 and 2011. More importantly, Barça will not skip steps, taking care to preserve the national jewel as much as possible. It is logically from the bench that Ricky Rubio follows the start of the meeting, undoubtedly replaying in his head the ovation from the public at the time of his introduction.
It was not until the second minute of the second quarter that coach Roger Grimau turned to Ricky Rubio for the first time to replace a twirling Nicolas Laprovittola but hampered by mistakes. The room rose as one, giving number 9 a long standing ovation followed by chants in his name.
Standing ovation for the entry of Ricky Rubio, Barça’s new number 9 ???? pic.twitter.com/ALXpyDhfo1
— Benoît TrashTalk (@We_Want_Tacos) March 1, 2024
On the floor, Ricky doesn’t force anything and always prefers the pass to the shoot. Ultimately, nothing has changed in 13 years. He shakes the strings for the first time on a small fadeaway before politely returning his place to the Argentine leader.
He’s back ! pic.twitter.com/ulgY8DS75r
— Benoît TrashTalk (@We_Want_Tacos) March 1, 2024
Called to the rescue again after Laprovittola’s third foul in the second half, he multiplied the caviars but Jokubaitis decided to ruin his stats sheet by transforming all this gold into bricks. On defense, Rubio hides a little. The cardio is not yet there and the NBA suddenly seems very far away when he is countered by Jaron Blossomgame at 3-points. To take care of his line, Ricky will treat himself to an and-one before watching the Monegasque victory from the bench (77-67). He ends this comeback with 5 points at 2/5 shooting and 1/1 shooting, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in 11 minutes.
This is his third match since his return to Spain, after two national matches during the EuroBasket 2025 qualifying window. It is also his third defeat, bringing his record to 0-3 since he was rested. foot on Iberian soil. But the important thing is elsewhere, Ricky Rubio is gradually rediscovering the joy of basketball and today that’s all that matters.
Last effort of the evening, a compulsory passage into the mixed zone to face around twenty journalists impatient to collect the first reactions of Ricky Rubio in the Blaugrana jersey. 6 minutes timed watch in hand by the press officer and the door finally closes behind the leader. It will take him a few more weeks to get back into the rhythm and his little habits. But it’s good to see him with a smile again. Welcome to home, Ricky.
Ricky Rubio had an intense evening at the Palau:
????️ “It was a lot of emotions. It was a lot of work and mental exercises to control it all. I changed a few mechanics to feel good. Today it feels a little weird, but it will adjust.” pic.twitter.com/GxeQhQIFjQ
— Benoît TrashTalk (@We_Want_Tacos) March 2, 2024
The best news of the day ????❤ pic.twitter.com/NVOgPDJadG
— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) March 1, 2024
2024-03-02 08:21:00
#Ricky #Rubio #returned #Barça #years
