With Ricky Rubio suiting up for Spain in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers, Emmet Ryan writes about the positive message it sends
Thursday night in Zaragoza was already going to be great. Latvia, one of the up and coming sides in international basketball, make the trip to take on a Spain side that has cause to celebrate before the ball is tipped. Their opening clash in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers will mark the return of Ricky Rubio to basketball.
The right circumstances
When Ricky Rubio officially signed with FC Barcelona on 6 February, there was a small caveat. The date was a matter of necessity, with the window for registering players for Euroleague that season closing the following day. When he’d make his return and under what circumstances was up for debate.
Throwing Rubio right into the Blaugrana’s line-up could upset the rhythm of FC Barcelona just before the break in the Euroleague season. Then there was the matter of the Copa del Rey. It was simply unfeasible for Rubio’s comeback to be managed at the multi-day tournament where, again, rhythm was too easy to mess with.
The break offered FC Barcelona a chance to work with Rubio so he’d be in the right place to suit their rhythm when he was inserted. Still, it is awfully handy to have him get some reps in before he gets out in games that matter.
These games are low stakes
To the untrained eye, Ricky Rubio’s first game back coming in an international qualifier might not seem too different to the alternatives above. Here’s the thing, this is basically an up tempo friendly.
There are four teams in Group C of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualification, with the top three going through. Barring some unthinkable upsets, we already know who is qualifying. Spain, Latvia, and Belgium should all roll past Slovakia and leave them in the spot to miss out. I don’t mean to be harsh on Slovakia but it’s just realism.
While they own a couple of impressive wins over Romania from last summer, they just aren’t in the same class as the others in this group. Latvia missed out on the last EuroBasket but finished 5th at the recent FIBA World Cup. Spain won EuroBasket 2022 and are literally Spain. Belgium have reached the final tournament in each of the last five editions, including beating Spain last time out in the group phase. Slovakia, by contrast, have yet to make it to EuroBasket or any other FIBA tournament finals since splitting from Czech Republic/Czechia in 1993. Don’t expect EuroBasket 2025 to break that trend.
These are about as low stakes an environment in-season as could be asked for when it comes to timing a comeback.
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What to expect
There is zero doubt that Ricky Rubio is going to be hungry for this one. He won’t be human if he isn’t a little nervous but I expect those nerves to fade quickly. The fans in Zaragoza are both basketball savvy and passionate. They are going to be keen to give him the warmest possible welcome.
In terms of on the court. Sergio Scariolo is a smart coach and will be look at this game, along with the one on Sunday away to Belgium as important prep for the Olympic qualifying tournament. With Rubio, that means he’s not going to be shy about using him. I’d certainly bet against him starting but an introduction most of the way through the first quarter also seems likely.
Scariolo is about as savvy an operator in European basketball as it gets. He’s also got great knowledge and understanding of the game in Spain. That cultural link with Spanish basketball, despite being about as Italian as it gets, helps him understand the rhythm. He’s well-placed to manage this first step of Rubio’s return to the sport.
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Yes, it’s more than basketball
I’ve already written about the impact of Ricky Rubio’s openness in dealing with his mental health struggles. Him coming back is going to be a special moment to watch, for all basketball fans.
There’ll obviously be the pre-game intro but when he steps on the court it’s going to be something else. That first pass, that first dime, it’s going to hit different. So many of us have watched Rubio since he was in his teens. The player with such youthful joy in the sport who competed with men and belonged. He grew into a baller that entertained and mentored.
Now, basketball is back for him on his terms. This is a moment where we as fans can share in the joy. It’s a moment of hope and one I have no intention of missing.