Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio on confirmed that he is leaving his club in Barcelona to start his NBA journey with the Minnesota Timberwolves next season.

Discuss Ricky Rubio and his move to the NBA

Rubio was selected by Minnesota with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft but delayed his NBA debut to join Spanish powerhouse Barcelona with whom he spent the last two seasons.

The 1.93m (6-5) guard made the move back then saying he needed more time to get ready for the rigours of the NBA.

Another factor might have been the then estimated $6 million buyout on Rubio’s Spanish contract.

Under NBA rules, the Timberwolves could only contribute $500,000 to the buyout, leaving the player with a sizeable chunk to pay out of his own pocket.

Staying in Spain for the additional two years has reportedly allowed for Rubio’s buyout to drop to a more manageable $1.4 million.

At a packed press conference at Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium on Friday, Rubio said of playing in the NBA: “It is my dream and I want to fulfill it. After thinking about it a lot, the time has arrived.

“I am going because I feel prepared. I want to play against the best players in the world.” Rubio said. “It’s a bit scary because I have never left Barcelona before but I am very keen to take on the challenge. I am not leaving because I think I cannot do any more here but because I believe I am ready and I am looking forward to it.”

In his two seasons at the club, Rubio helped Barcelona win the Euroleague once, two Spanish league titles as well as a pair of Spanish Super Cups and Spanish King’s Cups.

He struggled at times this past season and even lost his place in Barcelona’s starting line-up, but experts believe he is well suited to the NBA game and Rubio believes that too.

“I like the NBA game as a spectator,” he said. “It is very attractive and more open.”

Rubio has played a key role in Spain’s silver medal run at the 2008 Olympics and their triumph at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.

He will look to help the Spaniards retain that European title in Lithuania later this summer.

The 20-year-old reached a deal with Minnesota at the end of May, signing a rookie contract under which he stands to make up to $3.5 million in his first season.

Though delayed, the Spanish heartthrob had predicted to arrive stateside back in 2009.

Read the original post at FIBA.com.