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What's the story?
The Toronto Raptors’ All-Star DeMar DeRozan discusses his bouts with depression in an interview with The Toronto Star.
In case you didn't know...
DeRozan was selected as an All-Star for the third straight time this season. He is currently averaging just over three points less than his career best of 27.3 while already making four more 3-pointers with 68 than his previous career best of 2013-14.
The heart of the matter...
The NBA logo of Toronto Raptors, which is void of color, apparently symbolizes the mood of their four-time NBA All-Star. DeMar DeRozan’s tweet over the All-Star Weekend was subtle but poignant.
"It's one of the things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we're all human at the end of the day," DeRozan told The Star. "We all got feelings ... all of that. Sometimes ... it gets the best of you, where times everything in the whole worlds on top of you."
"I always have various nights," DeRozan added "I've always been like that since I was young, but I think that's where my demeanour comes from. I'm so quiet if you don't know me. I stay standoffish in a sense, in my own personal space, to be able to cope with whatever it is you've got to cope with."
The NBPA executive director Michele Roberts in a recent interview with the SB Nation told the website that "We've been naive- I'm being kind when I say naive- in thinking that we didn't have to address and make sure that we were giving as much attention to our players' mental wellness, as we were their physical,"
What's next?
The Toronto Raptors have the 3rd best record in the NBA right now at 41-17. The Raptors hope to continue their excellent form of run as they host the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Author's take
DeMar DeRozan’s outburst goes to show the kind of mental frustration the NBA players have to face and even the most successful superstars are unsuccessful in fighting off depression.
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
