Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love has been one of the most outspoken players when it comes to depression and mental struggles around the NBA. Love has been tried so hard to remove the stigma about the disease and the people that can suffer from this, explaining that it’s more normal than most people think.
Love has done a terrific job raising awareness about this serious topic alongside other players like DeMar DeRozan, but it seems like the player hasn’t beaten all his demons, as he recently revealed he keeps fighting them every now and then.
Love joined “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” this week, where he opened up about his mental struggles and how dark things can get some days. Love made a shocking, heart-breaking revelation admitting that he still has suicidal thoughts.
Kevin Love says suicidal thoughts still cross his mind
KL admitted that he’s made a good job improving his mental health but sometimes he gets overwhelmed and those undesired thoughts cross his mind.
“You don’t get to turn it on or turn it off,” the Cleveland Cavaliers forward said.
“Listen, if you’ve been down that road … I think it does cross your mind,” Love said of his battles with suicidal thoughts.
“And, I just learned to speak my truth, honestly. I’ve learned that nothing haunts us like the things we don’t say. So, me keeping that in is actually more harmful.”
Love even recalled that there were times during his stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves that he thought about ending his life.
“The good thing that happens is when you do search that, it comes up with the National Suicide Prevention Line,” Love said.
“It was just scary to get down that route and think about the idea of taking my own life. But it was something that crossed my mind pretty often, especially when you’re in a moment like that.”
Fortunately for the player, he always finds light to get out of the darkness and he’s been using that whenever he feels overwhelmed. The big man is an NBA champion, one of the best players in his position and, one of the best shooters in the league. Yet, none of that has prevented him from suffering from depression.
This is something that has nothing to do with money, power, or any representation of success. Mental health is important and cases like Love’s and other players show that this goes beyond how much money you have in the bank.