Liga Endesa officially presented the new season in Madrid, with all clubs represented, on the same day that Chus Mateo was unveiled as the new head coach of Spain’s national team.
Among the players present was Ricky Rubio, who returned as the face of Juventut Badalona, the club where his professional journey began.
Rubio is stepping back onto Spanish courts 20 years after making his debut at just 14 years and 11 months old.
Having spent last season away from the game and formally ending his NBA career, the veteran guard made it clear that he isn’t ready to retire completely – and left open the possibility of returning to Spain’s national team.
“It’s a long way off, and I haven’t thought about it because I don’t know how this season will go,” Rubio told Spanish outlet AS. “I’ve made plans before without enjoying them, and now I’m involved in a very exciting project. I never close any doors, but we’ll see how the season unfolds.”
His comments arrive in the aftermath of Spain’s disappointing EuroBasket campaign, where the defending champions failed to advance to the Round of 16. Despite the setback, Rubio praised the team’s resilience.
“We had a bit of bad luck at the EuroBasket, but the team battled against Italy and Greece until the very end. It was a great performance, even though the results didn’t match it.”
Looking ahead, Rubio expressed confidence in Chus Mateo leading Spain through its generational transition.
“Chus Mateo is now the national team coach, a very experienced coach who knows the national team from the inside out. And with Madrid, he’s gained even more experience. It’s an exciting time, with a renewal of generations.”
Ricky Rubio doesn't close the door to the Spanish national team during the presentation of Liga Endesa's new seasonhttps://t.co/B0ELG9FCkE
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 23, 2025
