Ricky Rubio decided to stay in Spain because he felt a move to the NBA was too risky at this point.

Rubio was sent to Barcelona by DKV Joventut on Tuesday after the Catalan club paid the point guard's $5 million buyout.

"Going to Minnesota would have just complicated my life a lot. It was a risk and I didn't see it so clearly," Rubio told the Associated Press. "My priority was the NBA and it was impossible for the Minnesota Timberwolves to pay my buyout clause, so I wanted to stay home."

Rubio has a buyout clause in his new six-year contract that will allow him to leave for the NBA after just two seasons.

The Timberwolves selected Rubio with the fifth overall pick in June's NBA Draft.

"I won't lie," Rubio added. "My objective has always been the NBA."