Young point guard Tyrell Terry (13 NBA games since his draft in 2020) announced on social media his choice to retire from the world of basketball, citing reasons related to his anxiety. A new episode showing the impact that top-level sport can have on mental health.
In recent years, several key players in the NBA – let’s think in particular of Kevin Love or DeMar DeRozan – have expressed themselves publicly on the subject of mental health. In fact, the general public tends to forget that behind the footballers and stars they adore every night, there are above all human beings with their personal history, their doubts and their anxieties. This time it was the young 22-year-old Tyrell Terry who spoke, announcing a radical decision on his part: that of leaving the center of the orange ball.
The leader who went to Stanford University allows himself in a long letter published on his Instagram account to discuss the reasons for his choice, highlighting in particular his anxiety as well as the pressure of the performance that will have ended up making him lose love for As a reminder, Terry was drafted 31st by the Dallas Mavericks in 2020, before going through the G League box then signing with the Memphis Grizzlies in late 2021. Cut by the Tennessee franchise this past July, he was from free agent.
“Basketball has allowed me to accomplish wonderful things, create unforgettable memories, make friends for life. But it also took me through the darkest moments of my life, to a point where instead of building me up, it started destroying me.
Intrusive thoughts, nauseous awakenings, difficulty breathing normally due to this weight that was getting heavier and heavier, here is a brief description of the anxiety caused by this sport.
While I am grateful for all the doors this sport has opened for me, I can no longer fight for something I no longer love.
Many things are waiting for me in this world and I am very excited to explore it. And for the first time, I have the opportunity to find my identity through something other than basketball.”
These are some of the very strong terms used by the now former player to express the anguish he felt in his basketball practice, but also his hope to carry on despite this difficult break with his lifelong passion.
Inevitably, such an announcement once again raises the question of managing the mental health of football players. In an increasingly publicized NBA, in the era of social networks where many things can be said without any real filter, what about the psychological well-being of these players?
In recent years, word has spread from NBA players regarding mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression. On the sidelines of the start of the season, DeMar DeRozan once again spoke on JJ Redick’s podcast about the pressure of life as a top athlete, while Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about the importance of rest, both physical and psychological, during Media Day Since 2018 and from the testimonies of DeRozan and Kevin Love, the NBA has paid particular attention to mental health issues, which has notably established an assistance program for players in need (which is independent of the franchises) while raising awareness among leaders of the various teams, most of whom now have full-time psychologists.
However, while topics like anxiety and depression are increasingly discussed in the Big League ecosystem, and even sports in general, the fact remains that players continue to suffer silently. Tyrell Terry was therefore one of them, and he preferred to get away from this world.
