Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan is a game-changer in more ways than one, making an impact not only on the basketball court but also increasing mental health resources in the NBA. As a professional athlete under immense pressure, he has become a leading voice in mental health advocacy, openly sharing his personal struggles and expressing the need for expanded resources and awareness.
His show, Dinners with DeMar, which debuted last spring has opened more conversations surrounding mental health with some of the biggest names in the basketball game being featured. Some of the guests to appear on the show this far include Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green, Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard.
His public openness to the media about his mental health struggles started with a tweet in 2018 before the NBA All Star Game that quotes the lyrics of Rapper Kevin Gates, ““This depression get the best of me.” And since then he has been an open advocate
Growing up in Compton, DeRozan faced significant challenges, living in poverty and losing friends to gang violence. Amidst his upbringing, basketball became his outlet, but he realized that even the game couldn't shield him from his emotional and mental struggles. He came to understand that, rather than avoid his mental health issues, he needed to confront them head-on.
“As men, and especially Black men, we don’t talk about our mental health enough. We struggle to admit when things aren’t okay, even when it’s obvious to everybody around us,” said DeMar. “I’ve seen how toxic that can become. I’ve experienced it myself, keeping everything under wraps until your head and heart are full of fire and rage.”
DeMar can be credited as one of the driving forces behind the NBA and NBPAs’ increased mental health support initiatives. According to the Washington Post, The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) began its mental health and wellness program a few months after DeMar created a lane for dialogue about how no amount of money or success can shield athletes from the realities of life. The league also created its own mental health program to assist players, coaches and other staff and expand on efforts that began in 2015, when every team was granted better access to licensed mental health professionals and counselors.
His new book, Above the Noise, is set to be released on September 10th! In the memoir, DeMar opens up about his proudest triumphs and the times he felt so weighed down he couldn’t get out of bed. He reflects on what it took to make a name for himself in a new country after getting drafted by the Toronto Raptors, the pressure of playing with veteran athletes as a twenty-year-old rookie, and the pain of losing role models. From a scared, angry kid to a confident father of five, DeMar traces his journey to basketball stardom and the forces that honed him into the player—and the slowly healing person—he is today.
When asked how he wants to be remembered, DeMar answered, "I want people to say that I helped reshape the stigma surrounding mental health." It’s clear that he already has.
Comments