DeMar DeRozan has, by all measures, reached nearly every pinnacle attainable on a basketball court. Selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Southern California, DeRozan has earned six NBA All-Star selections, two All-NBA Second Team honors and two Olympic gold medals. Impressively, at 35 years old, he averaged 24.0 points per game last season, placing him 17th among the league’s top scorers. When the NBA opens its 2024–2025 season on Oct. 24, the Compton, California native will commence his 16th season — and his first with the Sacramento Kings. However, despite DeRozan’s sustained excellence on the court, one of his most significant contributions to the game — and perhaps to society — lies in his courage to challenge the long-standing stigma surrounding an often-overlooked issue in sports: the mental health of athletes.
DeRozan’s emergence as a public advocate for mental health dates back to February 2018, during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. At approximately 3:06 a.m., he shared a candid post on his X (formerly Twitter) account: “This depression get the best of me…”—a lyric from the song “Tomorrow” by musician Kevin Gates. DeRozan’s tweet was a poignant reminder that despite showcasing seemingly superhuman abilities on the court, athletes arefundamentally, human. This simple seven-word tweet would propel him into the national spotlight as a leading advocate for mental health, both within the realm of sports and society at large.
DeRozan’s tweet, in its refreshing candor, seemingly offered permission — or at the very least, created space — for fellow players to voice their own mental health challenges. Less than a month after DeRozan’s tweet, former Cleveland Cavalier and NBA Champion, Kevin Love, authored a poignant essay in The Players’ Tribune titled “Everyone Is Going Through Something.” Love revealed that he began seeing a therapist after experiencing a panic attack during a game earlier that year. What motivated him to share his own mental health struggles? In part, it was DeRozan’s openness, writes Love. “One of the reasons I wanted to write this comes from reading DeMar’s comments last week about depression. I’ve played against DeMar for years, but I never could’ve guessed that he was struggling with anything. It really makes you think about how we are all walking around with experiences and struggles — all kinds of things — and we sometimes think we’re the only ones going through them.” He further reflected on the impact DeRozan has had — and continues to have — in dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health, “Because just by sharing what he shared, DeMar probably helped some people — and maybe a lot more people than we know — feel like they aren’t crazy or weird to be struggling with depression. His comments helped take some power away from that stigma, and I think that’s where the hope is.” After DeRozan’s tweet ignited widespread dialogue about mental health, he further embraced the ensuing outreach. “Opening up that Pandora’s box could bring so much more than I ever could imagine, in a positive way. Let’s make this thing a normal conversation that’s had,” DeRozan shared with ESPN.
DeRozan has remained a steadfast advocate for mental health among athletes and, this past September, nearly six years after his widely celebrated tweet helped ignite a crucial dialogue about athletes and mental health, DeRozan published a memoir titled “Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm,” chronicling his upbringing and personal struggle with mental health. DeRozan reflects on his experiences growing up in poverty, the heartbreak of losing friends to tragic circumstances and the intense pressures of competing alongside seasoned athletes as a rookie. Central to his story, however, is the profound and formative relationship he shared with his father, whose influence left an enduring impact on DeRozan’s life and career. DeRozan’s memoir offers a rare and profound glimpse into the inner world of one of the most dominant athletes in professional sports, granting readers access to a level of personal insight that fans seldom experience from these superstars.
DeRozan’s decision to publish a memoir was in part driven by his desire to connect with a broader audience through a new platform. In a September interview with the Tornado Star, he explained, “I’m just trying to reach anybody who feels like they’re alone, more so than anything. Anybody who feels like they’re alone, that the struggles they’re going through are too much. Showing that it is possible to make it through, and also encourage them to show vulnerability and find strength within that as well, and show that it’s a continuous journey.”
DeRozan’s memoir, coupled with his ongoing advocacy, delivers a powerful message: those grappling with inner struggles are never truly alone, and at our essence, we all share a common humanity. As he recently shared with USA Today, “Remember that we are all human. We’re all going through something. All of us. So think about how you can help the next person. No matter how you’re feeling, don’t give up. Don’t feel like it’s only you. The world can be a harsh place but no matter what, you’re not alone.” Sam Amick of The Athletic aptly described DeRozan’s “vulnerability” as his “superpower,” underscoring that true leadership emerges not just through athletic mastery but through the bravery and courage to confront and attempt to dissolve the stigma surrounding mental health in sports and everyday life.
As the NBA season kicks off, fans everywhere will marvel as their favorite athletes weave through defenders and deliver powerful, thunderous dunks in the lane. When DeRozan takes the court on Oct. 24, as the Kings host the Minnesota Timberwolves, wearing his purple and white number ten jersey, it serves as a reminder that his contributions extend beyond basketball. While his impact on the game is significant, he also uses his platform to champion mental health, making an impact that transcends the sport.
Barrett Snyder is a WCUPA graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Exercise Science with a specialization in Sports Psychology.