MADRID – As the hours lurched to the gold-medal game on Sunday night, Ricky Rubio still wondered whether he could bring himself to a television for United States-Serbia. For weeks, there had been a sure, steady beat of anticipation of Spain reaching these World Cup of Basketball Finals, only to witness that opportunity obliterated. Spain had its forever team, and somehow let itself lose to France.

"I don't know if I'm going to watch the game yet," Rubio told Yahoo Sports on Sunday afternoon. "It's really tough right now. Everybody was talking about basketball here in Spain … and we had one bad day and everything went away."

Rubio needed this summer with the Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka, with Jose Calderon and Juan Navarro, with a talented, winning team that played beautiful ball, played together. He had listened to Minnesota Timberwolves officials, and grown stronger in his upper body, sturdier for the pounding of a pro point guard. He is 23 years old, and still holds the promise to be a dazzling NBA player. Rubio's gifts with the ball and pass are unique, and yes, still largely untapped.

Rubio's promised a return to a transformed reality with the Timberwolves, a reshaped roster without the star he had never wanted to lose out of his life. Rubio had planned to wait until his national team responsibilities were over to reach out to his newest running mate, Andrew Wiggins. In a lot of ways, Rubio still had to process that Love had left him, that those magnificent months in the 2011-12 season – before Rubio's ACL tear, before Love's injuries – when it felt like they had something magical together, had staying power.

"We had a pretty good, pretty amazing first season together," Rubio told Yahoo Sports. "But then we were unlucky, had a lot of injuries, and that cut the rhythm, the momentum, that we had started with together. If nobody got hurt, we could've made it to the playoffs and maybe have gone farther together. But the injuries started, and kept going, and we never could keep what we had."

View photos Ricky Rubio averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 assists last season. (USA Today) More

Before Love had his agent push the Wolves for a trade in April, Rubio never did have a heart-to-heart with him about a future together. On a trip to Los Angeles after the T'wolves season ended, Rubio considered talking to Love there, but never bothered.

What was the point anymore?

"If he wanted to leave, there's no reason to talk to him about it," Rubio told Yahoo. "I really liked playing with him, but I'll play with the players who want to be there. Kevin wants to win. That's normal. He's been there six years without the playoffs. I understand. If I was in the same situation – being one of the best players in the league – and not being able to be in the playoffs, I'd have a lot of frustration, too.

"The last couple years there have been a lot of questions. It is hard – even if the team is good – the media always talks about it. You don't want to think about it, but everyone is always talking about your main guy this way. And it becomes harder to be focused.

"Right now, we have to play with the players we have."

When the Love-Wiggins trade was finally notarized in late August, there was no telephone call. Rubio texted Love, and wished him well. Love texted back. Apparently, that's how breakups go these days. And it was over. "I have to be thankful for everything he did for me," Rubio told Yahoo. "Coming from Europe to the NBA, it is not easy. Having the superstar give you the head's-up on things, look out for you … I appreciate it.

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