Cavaliers' Ricky Rubio stepping away from basketball to focus on mental health

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Veteran NBA player Ricky Rubio announced his decision to step away from his basketball career to focus on his mental health.

Rubio's decision comes a little more than two weeks before the Spanish national team was scheduled to play in the FIBA World Cup later this month.

Spain will enter the FIBA World Cup as the defending champion, and Rubio is a native of Barcelona, Spain. The 32-year-old earned MVP honors during the most recent FIBA World Cup. The tournament begins Aug. 25 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

"I have decided to stop my professional activity to take care of my mental health," Rubio said in a statement distributed by the Spanish Basketball Federation. "I want to thank all the support I have received from the FEB to understand my decision. Today #LaFamilia makes more sense than ever. Thank you."

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Ricky Rubio of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court in the fourth quarter during a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center March 12, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Rubio also asked that his "privacy be respected so that I can face these moments and be able to give more information when the time comes."

Rubio was not on the court for the Spanish team's exhibition game against Venezuela Friday in Madrid. It is unclear how long Rubio will be away from basketball. 

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NBA training camps open in October. Rubio has played for four NBA teams during his 12-year career, spending his two most recent season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We