After the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan opened up about his issues with mental health, the Washington Wizards’ Kelly Oubre shares his own personal story.
When an NBA player is injured on the court, fans are relieved when they get back up and cheers are heard throughout the arena. Those at home breathe a sigh of relief. The athlete’s physical health inside those four lines are of paramount importance. But what about their mental health?
Recently players have made the courageous decision to step outside those lines, and let the rest of the world know that they’re human just like their fans. These athletes serve as a reminder that no matter how much money they make or adulation they receive, that they’re not immune to the same human frailties—stress, anxiety or depression.
Frailties is a bit of a misnomer, because there’s nothing weak about mental heath. Rather the fact that they are speaking about these issues is a sign of strength.
Some fans may see these athletes as a type of superhero or superhuman. However, the players want their fans to know that they are no different from anyone else—they have the same dreams, fear and worries.
The following three athletes brought their message down to earth…
Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan
The Raptors DeMar DeRozan during All-Star weekend tweeted—”This depression get the best of me…”. What should have been a joyous occasion, celebrating the best of the best NBA players, wasn’t so for the four-time All-Star.
DeRozan told the Toronto Star in an interview shortly thereafter:
"“It’s one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we’re all human at the end of the day,” the 28-year-old Raptors all-star said. “We all got feelings . . . all of that. Sometimes . . . it gets the best of you, where times everything in the whole world’s on top of you.”"
DeRozan added, that he has grappled with depression since he was young. As a coping mechanism he tries to fill up his time through family, basketball and “filling every available hour with the search to be a better father and partner and player.”
Cavaliers Kevin Love
After DeRozan came out of the shadows to shed light on mental health, Kevin Love also shared his struggles with the Players Tribune. A ring and three consecutive trips to the Finals didn’t provide immunity for Love.
Love begins his “Everyone is Going Through Something” article:
"“On November 5th, right after halftime against the Hawks, I had a panic attack.It came out of nowhere. I’d never had one before. I didn’t even know if they were real. But it was real — as real as a broken hand or a sprained ankle. Since that day, almost everything about the way I think about my mental health has changed.”"
At the time it was thought that he suffered some type of physical injury. Some would argue that mental health should be on the same parity as physical health. So Love was in fact injured.
Love writes that while growing up he was taught to hide his feelings, to tough it out.
"“It’s like a playbook: Be strong. Don’t talk about your feelings. Get through it on your own. So for 29 years of my life, I followed that playbook.”"
Thus from childhood until that November 5th attack, Love believed mental health was other people’s issues, not something that would happen to him. He also viewed it as a “form of weakness”.
Love describes that November night:
"“After halftime, it all hit the fan. Coach Lue called a timeout in the third quarter. When I got to the bench, I felt my heart racing faster than usual. Then I was having trouble catching my breath. It’s hard to describe, but everything was spinning, like my brain was trying to climb out of my head…..I remember our assistant coach yelling something about a defensive set. I nodded, but I didn’t hear much of what he said. By that point, I was freaking out. When I got up to walk out of the huddle, I knew I couldn’t reenter the game — like, literally couldn’t do it physically.Coach Lue came up to me. I think he could sense something was wrong. I blurted something like, “I’ll be right back,” and I ran back to the locker room. I was running from room to room, like I was looking for something I couldn’t find. Really I was just hoping my heart would stop racing. It was like my body was trying to say to me, You’re about to die. I ended up on the floor in the training room, lying on my back, trying to get enough air to breathe.”"
Love was taken to the hospital, where they didn’t find anything physically wrong with him.
Later the CAVS organization would set Love up with a therapist. He had a breakthrough in the sense that he realized that he was still grieving the passing of his “Grandma Carol”. She had died before a planned trip to see Love when he was playing for the Timberwolves.
Love now realized that he buried his grief while focusing on basketball. The reason Love told us about “Grandma Carol”, is that he knows problems don’t disappear by “talking about them”. But he “learned that over time maybe you can better understand them and make them more manageable.”
Love reiterates, “everyone is going through something that we can’t see”. His article really laid bare his soul. It doesn’t make him any less or any more, it only makes him human.
Washington Wizards Kelly Oubre, Jr.
With these two All-Stars opening up, the Washington Wizards Kelly Oubre, Jr. sat down with Chase Hughes and Chris Miller of NBCSports Washington to share his story.
The old adage with age comes wisdom doesn’t apply to Mr. Oubre, for he is wise beyond his years.
Regarding DeRozan’s and Love’s struggles, Oubre can put himself in their shoes:
"“I can definitely relate to it all… I’m really good at keeping a poker face because when I was growing up my dad always told me ‘don’t let anybody see you weak.’ Nobody sees that I’m weak, but deep down inside I am going through a lot. Hell is turning over.”"
Oubre’s father, Kelly Oubre, Sr., has been a strong foundation for the young player as he battles through his own mental health issues. Senior has been like that lighthouse, which vessels off the shore look towards to return home.
Senior always “preaches mental health” to Oubre. Regarding the anxiety and panic attacks which both DeRozan and Love describe, Oubre has experienced both.
"“That s— is serious,” he said. “I just go into a quiet place and breathe, man. Just being mindful is the only way I know how to get through any anxiety, any depression or anything like that.”"
Both Love and DeRozan are established in their NBA careers. However, Oubre at 22 is still making a name of himself. He didn’t let his age or young stature prevent him from getting out a truly strong message.
You can listen to the entire interview here.
With Oubre, DeRozan, Love and Oubre, fans can applaud their candor, because they chose to bring forth a message that they didn’t have to share.
Although fans are not like NBA players. These three talented athletes stepped off the court to say they are just like their fans—human.