Udonis Haslem responded to Ricky Rubio's comments about feeling isolated in the NBA and the league becoming more about business than basketball, saying the Spanish playmaker was partly to blame.
Recently, 12-year NBA veteran guard Ricky Rubio opened up about his disappointment with the NBA after 698 games.
Ricard Rubio
Ricard Rubio
Position: PG
Age: 34
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Birth place: Barcelona, Spain
In an interview with the Spanish program Lo de Evole, Rubio reflected on the challenges he faced during his NBA career, particularly when many in the league seemed focused more on money and business than the game itself.
"In Minnesota, I lived with my best friend. One night we went out to dinner and I didn't say a single word for an hour, because I was thinking about a loss. That's something I regret. I didn't make friends, just teammates," Rubio said. "Because of my personality, it's hard for me to open up... Conversations in the locker room—'What kind of car do you drive?'—meant nothing to me. That doesn't make you a better person."
"I was a star in Minneapolis; it was the early days of YouTube, which helped. I had to create a persona, even though I didn't want to," he added. "I never fell in love with U.S. culture, but the NBA became a show and a business. The love for basketball has been lost, and that's spreading to Europe. What do I carry from the U.S.? A list of things I would never do."
Credit AP - Scanpix
In response, Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem, who retired in 2023, said Rubio was partly to blame.
"I do say something to Ricky Rubio. You sat at the table and let him do it. So, you're part of the problem. Your ass up," Haslem said on the latest The OGs podcast with co-host Mike Miller and Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis.
"You sit at the table and let him do it, so you are part of the problem," the 45-year-old three-time NBA champ repeated. "You think when they left, they said, 'Oh, everybody suck but Rubio.' No, they talk about all y'all ass. Out of here."
Over his NBA career with the Timberwolves, Jazz, Suns, and Cavaliers, Rubio averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
Now, at 34, the Spanish playmaker is returning to his roots with Joventut Badalona, signing a one-year contract to mark a heartfelt homecoming to the team where his professional career began.
This move comes after a one-season break from basketball.
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