It was recently revealed that prior to committing domestic violence on his girlfriend, Jabari Bird of the Boston Celtics was undergoing professional help with regard to some mental health problems.

As reported by Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, sources close to Bird said that the guard was dealing with emotional problems prior to the September 7 incident. A source said:

“panic attacks and things like that. It wasn’t a long-term thing, but everyone knew. The Celtics knew there was something going on and he was being treated.”

Another one suggested that Bird was already going through some issues prior to the incident. It wasn't just the usual domestic-violence case when one party suddenly lost control of his emotions:

“This wasn’t one of the domestic-violence situations you usually see where someone gets jealous for one thing and loses control. There was something deeper going on here with (Bird). This was a bad situation.”

Bird has apologized for the inconvenience he has caused to the franchise, his family, and the NBA fans. For the time being, Bird will take some time away from basketball to resolve his legal and medical issues.

“I’m taking some time away from the team as I deal with my legal and medical issues,” he said. “I apologize to my family, the Celtics organization, my teammates, the fans and the NBA for the unnecessary distraction that I have caused. The information that has been released does not tell the full story. I do not condone violence against women. I am hopeful that in due time and process, I will be able to regain everyone’s trust.”

Bird was the 56th overall pick by the Celtics in 2017. Last season, he played 13 games and logged in 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and shot 57.7 percent from the field per game. For the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics' G League affiliate, Bird played 20 games where he averaged 19.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 51.7 percent from the field.