For DeMar DeRozan, this path toward improved mental health started with

It led to him writing a book.

Being in Sacramento isnB次元官网网址檛 the only new part of DeRozanB次元官网网址檚 story entering this NBA season. The six-time All-Star is now an author, after his book B次元官网网址淎bove the Noise: My Story of Chasing CalmB次元官网网址� was released in the offseason. ItB次元官网网址檚 a continuation of the conversation he helped start six years ago when he revealed that he struggled with his mental health.

B次元官网网址淚 never would have thought IB次元官网网址檇 have did a book ever in my life,B次元官网网址� DeRozan said last month at media day with the Kings, the club he joined in the offseason after spending the last three seasons in Chicago. B次元官网网址淭o do that, it was something new. Once I got past those jitters and you start to get, you know, the reception from the book and it was like, B次元官网网址楧amn, you liked it?B次元官网网址� It was good. I was happy.B次元官网网址�

And happiness is the destination.

DeRozan hasnB次元官网网址檛 stopped sharing about his mental health journey in the 6 1/2 years since posting that initial tweet; fellow of the Miami Heat has also been a champion in that same space of trying to help others by revealing his own struggles.

It is no longer a secret topic, no longer unspoken, no longer scary and no longer a sign of weakness B次元官网网址� not just around the NBA, but around most every level of sports, pro and amateur, menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚, team and individual.

B次元官网网址淲hen you look at yourself in the mirror, sometimes you donB次元官网网址檛 like what you see, and that could lead to some depression or lead to some anxiety or lead to other mental health issues,B次元官网网址� Dallas guard Kyrie Irving said during last seasonB次元官网网址檚 NBA Finals. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a big thing that I think our generation is spearheading, where I hope that the older generation can take a lesson out of our book, that this isnB次元官网网址檛 just some spiritual B次元官网网址�70s type of mantras we are trying to put out here. We actually believe in what we talk about in terms of meditation and having the ability to slow your life down and making sure that you keep your priorities straight.B次元官网网址�

Irving and Love were two players that DeRozan picked out in the book as examples of those who expressed concern after the initial tweet in February 2018 at All-Star weekend. DeRozanB次元官网网址檚 agent, Aaron Goodwin, told him B次元官网网址� in a story detailed in the book B次元官网网址� that even the NBA office reached out to check on what the tweet meant.

Goodwin tried to prep DeRozan that the tweet could be the talk of All-Star weekend and that questions were likely coming.

B次元官网网址淭he way I saw it, all I had done was shared an honest moment B次元官网网址� the kind of thing countless people are feeling on any given day,B次元官网网址� DeRozan wrote in the book. B次元官网网址淣either of us realized it at the time, but it was a perspective that hadnB次元官网网址檛 been expressed by an athlete at my level on that kind of platform.B次元官网网址�

Love and Irving had taken notice, and they asked DeRozan how he was feeling when they gathered for All-Star weekend duties. DeRozan was autographing items at the time, acting unbothered by anything. But the tweet had most certainly gotten their attention.

B次元官网网址淚 wrote my tweet during a moment of vulnerability and transparency. But that moment had passed,B次元官网网址� DeRozan wrote. B次元官网网址淣ow I was on the job, so to speak, doing my duty. So I went back to being myself, suppressing my true feelings and sweeping it all under the rug. Deep down, their worry meant a lot to me.B次元官网网址�

The author is still a player, of course. DeRozan averaged 24 points per game last season in Chicago, and even at 35 and going into his 16th NBA season B次元官网网址� with previous stops in San Antonio and Toronto B次元官网网址� the Kings believe he can help them make a serious jump in the Western Conference.

Sacramento landed him this summer on a three-year, $74 million deal.

B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檝e got a guy like DeMar walking through that door,B次元官网网址� Kings coach Mike Brown said, B次元官网网址渋t adds to the belief of everybody.B次元官网网址�