Contrary to popular belief, money doesn’t always buy happiness. ESPN’s Jackie McMullen has been working on a series that dives deep into how NBA players — many who came from impoverished backgrounds — can still have everyday struggles with mental health despite appearing to have everything they could have ever wanted, including fame and fortune.
The life-style change, from protecting themselves from the dangers of the inner city to living in a plush mansion, doesn’t mean an athlete’s personality or the way they see the world changes overnight. The Spurs newest star, DeMar DeRozan — who has dealt with depression in the past — had his own means of supressing the challenges around him before eventually realizing it was too mentally draining to keep up.