What does it actually look like to put family first? It looks like Ricky Rubio letting it be known publicly that his professional basketball career would be over before anyone expected. The NBA star said, When my son starts school, the NBA will not be worth it. I will have to go back [to Spain]. I don’t want to make him dizzy moving around when he’s six years old, at the age of starting to make friends. It was discussed with my wife and we have it very clear. There will come a time when basketball will not be the priority.
Will he follow through on this? Is our career inherently at odds with being a good parent? That’s for him and for each of us to decide. Still, at some point our kids must come first. We must do what’s best for them. We must sacrifice for them. We must give them the life they deserve—a life with us in it.
Your career is important. But family is forever. It must be the top priority.