Debut with 18 points and 4 assists! Hello, Rubio! It's been exactly two years since he left the NBA.

The new La Liga season kicked off, with Rubio's Joventut beating Granada 87-75,In this game, he logged 19 minutes, hitting 4 out of 7 shots, including 1 out of 3 from beyond the arc, and was perfect from the free-throw line with 9 of 9, totaling 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in a well-rounded performance.

The seasoned veteran is still sharp, a highly experienced floor general.

Born on October 21, 1990, Rubio is about to turn 35. The 1.88-meter point guard was the 5th overall pick in the 2009 first round. Over his NBA career, he averaged 29.6 minutes per regular season game, contributing 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.8 steals, with shooting percentages of 38.8% from the field, 32.4% from three, and 84.3% from the line. In the playoffs, he averaged 26.1 minutes, 11.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals, shooting 38.4%, 26.9%, and 81.4% respectively.

Rubio's last NBA appearance was during the 2022-23 season with the Cavaliers. In August 2023, he announced a break from basketball due to mental health issues, and in early 2024, he officially retired from the NBA, concluding a 12-year career with total earnings around $130 million.

In July this year, Rubio returned to Joventut. He began his professional career at just 17 years old in the 2005-06 season with Joventut, his home club, where he played for four seasons.

Compared to his club career, Rubio’s achievements with the Spanish national team are even more remarkable. He won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, gold medals at the 2009 and 2011 European Championships, a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the gold at the 2019 World Cup. Notably, at the 2019 World Cup, Rubio not only led his team to victory but was also named Finals MVP and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team and becoming the all-time assists leader.

Today, Rubio may not have been reborn, but by returning to his roots, he has rediscovered his purpose and passion for the game. He is expected to finish his playing career at Joventut, bringing a full circle to his basketball journey — a truly fortunate conclusion.

Falling down is not frightening; what matters is having the courage to stand back up and remain a resilient warrior.