DeMar DeRozan spurred NBA’s mental health conversation. His voice is only growing louder
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- DeMar DeRozan, entering his 18th NBA season with the Denver Nuggets, is embracing the final phase of his basketball career while focusing on mental health advocacy, especially for young boys and men.
- Since publicly sharing his own struggles with depression in 2018, DeRozan has become a leading voice in destigmatizing mental health issues among athletes and beyond, inspiring others like Kevin Love.
- Through his memoir, YouTube series “Dinners with DeMar,” and community engagement, DeRozan aims to transform mental health conversations into actionable support, emphasizing vulnerability and storytelling.
- DeRozan is exploring opportunities beyond basketball, including film and writing, to further mental health awareness and cultural impact, while also seeking to make a local difference in his new home of Denver.
- He highlights the urgent need to address mental health among young men, particularly Black men facing high suicide rates, encouraging openness and reminding them that they matter.
