Ja Morant Shows Love to Retired NBA Star’s Brutally Honest Admission on Mental Health

Ja Morant is no stranger to the intense glare of the spotlight. With the limelight getting the best of him at times, he fully understands the weight of pressure in the world of professional athletics. So, when Ricky Rubio recently bared his soul, sharing the poignant journey of navigating the challenges of being a professional athlete, Morant quickly extended his support.

Jumping onto X, Morant dropped a heart emoji paired with a bullseye target, symbolizing that Rubio’s narrative had hit him right in the soft spot. Ja’s heartfelt response was in reaction to a post delving into Rubio’s recent self-discovery journey. Even though the two don’t share jerseys, Ja’s gesture reflects the camaraderie and underscores the much-needed support that only players within the league can provide.

Emotionally expressing himself, Rubio made a poignant statement: “The player ate the person,” shedding light on the existential crisis that led him to question his true identity. Despite possessing the recipe for performing at a high level, Rubio admitted to developing unsustainable mechanisms. He revealed grappling with chronic stress, akin to an anxiety disorder, and emphasized that understanding his path was the only way out of the perplexing puzzle.

Beyond the athletic gifts and flashy moves, basketball is a mental game first. Despite that, discussions about mental health have seen intermittent attention throughout the sport’s grand history. However, recently, players such as Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Draymond Green, and others have stepped into the spotlight, fostering more candid conversations. Ja Morant’s recent gesture adds another positive layer to this evolving narrative, signifying both support and understanding in the ongoing intertwining of mental health and professional basketball.

Ricky Rubio will continue playing on a global level

Last year, Ricky Rubio took a hiatus from the NBA to attend to his mental health. Recently, he sealed a buyout of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and declared his retirement from the league.

But there will not be any farewell tears. Rubio is set to reignite his magic on the global stage, making a grand return to the court with FC Barcelona in a #9 jersey. Interestingly, reports suggest that Rubio won’t be tied down by contractual obligations to play – freedom that echoes a new chapter in his career. Moreover, Rubio has already started playing, leading the Spanish team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.

Rubio has 14 years of professional basketball. Within them, he played 12 years in the NBA, entering the league with wizard-like passes and exiting having mentored bright stars like Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell. While he does not have an NBA ring, on the global stage, Rubio is a 2x Olympic medalist, a world champion, and a 2x European champion.

Read More – Ricky Rubio Gives Up $5.4 Million to Prioritise Mental Health in Shocking Retirement Decision