The issue of mental health problems has been in the spotlight for some time now, and increasingly so. It is an illness that can affect anyone, and NBA players are not immune. In recent years, cases such as those of DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love, John Wall, Jahlil Okafor, Delonte West and Ricky Rubio have come to light, who have publicly admitted to having had to resort to professional help to overcome their depression.
No one is free from falling into that dark side of their mind. Not even players who on and off the court have shown over the years to have a personality and mental strength that is second to none. This is the case of Kyrie Irving, one of the brightest stars in the NBA, champion with the Cavaliers in 2016, who has never held his tongue when it comes to expressing his opinion on any subject. A confessed flat-earther and anti-vaxxer, he has always been up front when it comes to dealing with problems.
Serious mental problems
But the Mavericks point guard, with 14 years of experience in the best league in the world after playing for the Cavaliers (2011-2017), Celtics (2017-2019) and Nets (2019-2023) before joining Dallas in 2023, has also not escaped this disease and has just admitted in a harrowing testimony on his Twitch channel the serious mental problems he has gone through and is still recovering from.
I’m at home watching the Finals. I could be so depressed that I don’t want to share this with you. But this is pure, unfiltered and uncut
The 33-year-old Australian point guard spoke openly about the deep emotional battles he has faced off the court, and continues to fight: “It’s about raising awareness of men’s mental health, but also raising awareness of your mental health. You know what I mean? I’m here because this also helps me with my mental health. You know what I mean?”
In his mood, to help all those who were going through the same ordeal as him: “I’m at home watching the Finals. I’m recovering from my ACL injury. I could be so depressed that I don’t want to share this with you. But this is pure, unfiltered and uncut, what you’re going to get because you deserve it.”
Don’t suffer depression in silence
Irving places great importance on addressing mental problems when they arise, and not suffering in silence. Verbalizing it is vital in his opinion: “This is taking me out of my comfort zone. It’s pushing me to create more boundaries with myself. I’m much more motivated, you know? And it’s helping me heal. If you’re joining in now too, this broadcast is helping me heal. It’s that simple.
I allowed people to misrepresent the narrative. Sometimes I followed advice from the wrong people. I allowed my spiritual boundaries to be violated and that sent me into a spiral of emotions
And he admits that his emotional problems were exacerbated by being influenced by outside opinions and bad influences that broke down his mental and spiritual armor: “When I say they, I mean that I have allowed people to twist the narrative. I have allowed them to mix in my mind and do things that, to be honest, I shouldn’t have paid attention to. Sometimes I followed advice from the wrong people. I allowed them to violate my spiritual boundaries and that led me into a spiral of emotions.”
The Mavs point guard confessed in this raw expose that he himself hit rock bottom because of these mental health issues: “I know what it feels like to lose everything and feel like you don’t want to be on Earth anymore. Please, please guys, for Mental Health Awareness Month. I know it’s Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, but this is for every day”.
Tell your loved ones
“I just wanted to take this moment to say that I care about you,” he said. “If you’re in the chat, please, please talk to your loved ones. Please, please don’t stay silent. Please don’t lock yourself in your shells. Take care of yourself. Take care of your mental health. Take care of your spiritual health. Take care of yourself.”
Please, don’t keep quiet, don’t lock yourselves in your shells. Please talk to your loved ones. Take care of your mental and spiritual health. Take care of yourselves
He concluded his message, which he used as a personal therapy, by again urging those affected by this disease and their loved ones to have constant communication to strengthen the emotional bond and give strength to those who suffer from depression: “That doesn’t mean you have to call me every day, but just call me. How are you? I love you, buddy. I love you. So I love each and every one of you. Thank you for the support.”
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