A long taboo subject in the professional world, and therefore in the NBA, the mental health of professional athletes was highlighted by the speeches of DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love on the subject.
But it’s not a question of thinking that everything is now settled, and members of the executive committee of the players’ union have thus pushed to organize a meeting on the subject, Wednesday, with Dr. William D. Parham, director of their program of mental health and well-being, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, executive director of the players’ union Tamika Tremaglio, but also Cynthia Germanotta, director of the Born This Way Foundation, as well as Victor Oladipo and CJ McCollum, president of the players’ union.
“They wanted to make sure we were still a voice speaking about this topic and its importance”explained Tamika Tremaglio at The Athletic. “As we enter this new season, it was essential to talk about it now so people can start telling their stories and feel comfortable going into the season. »
For CJ McCollum, it is always a delicate subject in the NBA because it is not natural, for many basketball players, to talk about their problems and their fragilities.
“I think it’s more about our communities, the communities that many of us come from”he explained. “Black communities have always been hesitant – and most communities have always been hesitant – to talk to people about their problems in general, because it makes them uncomfortable. But I think a lot of people are doing it now, a lot of people are talking about it, and little by little more and more professional athletes are starting to say that they are seeking help and that it has been helpful and helpful. beneficial to their lifestyle, their career and what they want to achieve on and off the field. »
For the Pelicans guard, the use of a psychologist is becoming normalized in NBA locker rooms. Especially since it’s not just about managing concerns related to the sporting environment alone…
“It’s extremely important because we go through all these emotions related to the game and our life, which sometimes we don’t know how to deal with” continues CJ McCollum. “If you’re the first generation of millionaires – some of us are the first generation of millionaires – or if you’re the first generation to graduate from college, it doesn’t matter, I’m a professional athlete. No one (in his family) has ever experienced this before, so they don’t know what it entails. So who do you talk to about your problems, if no one can understand them? »
