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Whenever he's on the court, Toronto Raptors star guard DeMar DeRozan is always a fierce competitor and one of the most exciting players to watch. After games, he is often seen having fun with his teammates, or even videobombing them during some interviews. What many do not know, though, is the story of DeRozan's struggle with depression.
It can be recalled that the 28-year-old Compton, Califonia native tweeted just before the All-Star Weekend that the depression has gotten the best of him. It caused quite a stir on what his real condition is, but he has now broken his silence and discussed his battle with it, via The Toronto Star's Doug Smith.
“It’s one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we’re all human at the end of the day,” DeRozan said. “We all got feelings … all of that. Sometimes … it gets the best of you, where times everything in the whole world’s on top of you.”
“Sometimes you hear things from other people, such as doing something like that (the Saturday morning tweet). There could have been a better way to take that approach, but I got great words from a lot of people,” he said.
“It’s not nothing I’m against or ashamed of. Now, at my age, I understand how many people go through it. Even if it’s just somebody can look at it like, ‘He goes through it and he’s still out there being successful and doing this,’ I’m OK with that.”
DeRozan's admittance only goes to show that he is also human, and just like any ordinary person who is struggling with depression as well. The good news is that he doesn't seem to be affected by it when he plays for the Raptors as his production remains consistent. The Raptors are also winners of eight of their last nine games, continuing to be the top team in the Eastern Conference.
For now, the team and their fans can only hope that DeRozan gets over his depression quickly. He could also seek for professional help in order to handle it better, but it all boils down to his will to win against it, and use his family, friends, and supporters as motivation to put it all in the past.
