Suffering but learning. Calm and at the same time impatient. Missing basketball, but also enjoying more time with his family. Ricky Rubio (El Masnou, 1990) still has a lot of work ahead of him to recover from the torn ligament in his left knee, suffered in December, but in this period off the track, which is happening in Barcelona, he has taken the opportunity to learn and enjoy other aspects of your life. The base makes a hole in his busy schedule, during the first Congress of Oncological Clinical Trials of Barcelona (Cecob) promoted by his foundation, to attend La Vanguardia.
How's the recovery going?
Very well. The objective is to return better than it was. It is a very well thought out and structured recovery with 15, 20 phases. I have played the ball almost from day one, although sitting from a chair. There are little things that we did not want to leave out.
They have given him a time off of between 10 and 12 months, which is the difference between being there for the start of the NBA season or that it has already started. Are you worried?
No way. I don't have a team that pressures me. Also, in the NBA you live a little differently. The first months are filming within what is possible. In the end, the most important thing is to go without a date and without pressure, and I will let you know. In the end, I'm going to play the season for sure. What day and what month is uncertainty. But in the end everything is played in May. I will arrive there.
But before the injury he was in a great moment and now his contract with the Indiana Pacers is ending and he is off the track.
When you work so much you don't worry about that. I have blind confidence in myself. If I recovered ten years ago by making it fatal...
What difference have you found between that recovery, when you injured the same knee in 2012, and now?
Now I'm getting excellent. And with the confidence level better than ever. It is true that before I was 20 years old and now more than 30. Everything evolves. Now everything is thought over. One week then and one week now is night and day. I have more knowledge. With the knee removed, physically I'm better than ever.
He commented that in this period he was going to write a diary. Any chapter that stands out?
Ugh, there is everything. He is being tougher than I expected. Mentally there have been more ups and downs, but there is also a lot of motivation on the daily.
The good part is that he has spent more time with his family and especially with his son...
Seeing a stage as important as that of the two years is priceless. Getting up and knowing that dad is there is different.
I understand that you have also become more involved with your foundation.
Something positive about being injured is the Foundation, which has helped me a lot to disconnect. I have been able to give him more time than usual, as with the congress (Cecob), where there are about 200 scientists. We will not stand still in the fight against cancer.
This period will be the longest away from the competition. Has it changed your perspective or your plans for the future?
I miss basketball more than I expected. I can't imitate the adrenaline of a match or a season with anything. It's hard. You stop and your mind plays it. But I am also evolving and learning from the stages.
Has your desire to advance your return to Europe increased since you've been in Barcelona?
No. When we are away we idealize Barcelona. Here you live very well, but in the United States too. I have not changed my way of thinking by being here.
I guess you've seen a lot of basketball these months.
I've been on the stretcher for a long time watching games of all kinds. NBA, ACB, Euroleague...
With you as a base, Barça won the last Euroleague in 2010. How do you analyze the defeat of the Blaugrana in the final four?
They are having an excellent year. It is true that Jasikevicius said that the team was missing something in important moments. But playing a title in one game is luckier. Well, you look for luck and you work for it, but it's true that drawing conclusions from a game is very difficult. You can have a bad day. That is why it is so difficult to win the Euroleague, you have to be very good on specific days.
And how do you see the fight for the NBA ring?
Very open. It is a very fun year for the fan. Boston is doing some impressive series. Anyone can win. We saw it in the seventh game of Dallas against the Suns, who were the best in the regular phase. Nobody counted on them and Doncic responded like a superstar in the important moments.
Is Doncic already at the level of players like LeBron James?
In the end, comparing is never pretty. LeBron James has been at this level for 18 years and Doncic for two or three.
And what NBA team do you see yourself on next season?
I have no idea, honestly. I have to pass teams that I like to my agent and he will give me his opinion. I will seek that the coach likes to play with a point guard and gives importance to him, that he is comfortable. And of course, that he fight at least for the playoffs and to be able to be the ring.
Nor will he be able to help Spain in the European Championship, the first without the Gasol brothers.
It will be difficult. The generation of 80 has left very high expectations and a lot of pressure. But they also won a World Cup without anyone from the 1980s and the team's winning DNA is still there.
Have you stayed with your friend Marc Gasol more now that he's around?
Little because I have been very focused on recovery and family. Marc is also in competition, but I have had a lot of contact.
Will you support Fontajau in the LEB playoffs?
I went when Girona played against Estudiantes. Let's see if everything fits together in the playoffs and I can go.
Do you have healthy envy of that slightly more relaxed life that Marc leads or do you already want to return to the maelstrom of the NBA?
Humans are like that. When you have one thing you want the other. I miss playing, but when I'm playing I miss being like this. Now I make the most of this situation.
