Mental problems among NBA players.
Introduction: NBA players are one of the best
paid athletes in the world. Money brings a lot of possibilities but also a lot
of problems. Very often people coming to the league, starting earning so much
money and being well recognized and popular, can’t handle these things and are
going to the wrong path. Few players started public discussion
How players
are starting to get into the troubles?
Everyone has
their own story and place that they come from. Mostly, NBA players come from
poor hood families. They don’t know “normal” life, with two parents, good conditions
to live, study or train. They often look like strong personalities, but reality
is totally opposite. When they start to earn money that they couldn’t even
imagine, get fame, pressure and expectations, things are starting to be a
little bit complicated. Upset and depressed player, put on deep water is
starting to look for solutions for their problems, and psychologist is the last
person they think about. That’s how everything is beginning.
How it
affects on their careers?
In the
moment that problem started to getting serious, everything depends on knowledge,
ability to handle difficult times and people that surround player. In worst possible
way, depressed player is starting to putting everything above basketball.
Parties, womans and spending a lot of money. Player that is breaking rules, is
removed from the first team or fired. Effect is that the career is over. But it’s
not always the same way. Sometimes players with support of psychologist or
family and friends are not experiencing these bad things, and just going through
everything with hard work, physical and mental. In history of NBA there were also
examples of players that after finishing careers too early, committed suicide.
Lack of
motivation and depressions and their effects in numbers:
§ In 2003 research from ‘Black Enterprise,’
magazine reported that the average career span is 4,5 year.
§ In 2009, ‘Sports Illustrated’
reported that 60% of NBA players, go bankrupt in five years after ending a
career.
§ Number of current NBA players
publicly speaking about their mental problems – 3 (Kevin Love,
DeMar DeRozan, Kelly Oubre Jr.)
How to
handle with depression?
There is
not only one solution to mental problems. The simplest one Is just to talk and
be open for solving the problem. Many players claim that key to their good
feeling through tough times was their family. Kobe Bryant, one of the best
players in history in basketball said in interview, that the only thing that
matters to him off the court is his daughter. It is not easy to heal from depression;
it takes years of hard work.
What are
the positive aspects of dealing with mental problems?
Very often,
players that went through a lot of things in their life and ended up as a happy
person are very valuable to the community that they live. They can understand
other people struggles, their needs and worries. That’s why in history of NBA
we can observe a tradition of older, experienced players with a lot of troubles
behind them, being a leaders and mentors to the younger players. In this way, that
‘mental problems cycle’ is ended. Younger players can focus more on what is
really important at their position, basketball. Few words, nice gest, ‘it’ll be
okay’ heard from idol, and every pressure, bad press or temptation goes away.
‘After
depression life’ of NBA player out of the league:
DeMar
DeRozan, after struggling with depression focused on his home neighborhood
Compton, Los Angeles. Hi is known there for helping people from this hard
living area to get out from troubles and give them a chance for better life.
Conclusions:
The way
that people feel with themselves is one of the most important things in life.
Cause how can you be a good NBA player, worker, father or husband if you’re not
happy with yourself. A lot of people struggling with mental problems can not
talk about it, but is often easy to read their nonverbal communication and just
read what they want to announce by their behavior. Nowadays in the NBA
discussion about depression among players is very open. Teams and league want
to help players to fight with their demons. Players support each other and fans
are doing their best to let players know, that they are for them.
References:
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