Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love penned an essay for The Players' Tribune detailing his mental health struggles and a particularly difficult period he experienced during the 2012-13 NBA season.
Love explained how from an early point in life his "self-worth was all about performing," with basketball serving as one outlet.
"When I wasn't performing, I didn't feel like I was succeeding as a person," he said.
As a result, the 2012-13 campaign was tough on him mentally because he was limited to 18 appearances. Without basketball, Love began to feel isolated:
"Five years before the panic attack that everyone knows about, I was probably in the darkest period of my life.