After Concern Video Surfaces, Kevin Love Rushes to Help Former NBA Star “Fearing for Life”

The NBA can be an arena of competition, talent and fame. But it is also a setting where the mental strain of life in the limelight is often exposed. Players like DeMar DeRozan, Paul George and even Kaleb Joseph have famously opened up about their struggles with mental health, challenging the notion that success and money protect against adversity. In a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health support in sports, a recently posted video of a former NBA star on social media sparked widespread concern. But he found an NBA friend to turn to for help.

Former NBA player Kyle Singler recently took his Instagram to write about the struggles he has faced. In the video, the former Duke standout appeared almost unrecognizable as he detailed experiences of abuse.

“So I just have to make an announcement because I feel like my voice has been silenced again. And everyday s–t is thrown my way and my society f—-ed. I have been abused, ab–ed, neglected, made a mental example and I fear for my life. Every day,” Singler said in the video.

When Singler shared troubling statements, Kevin Love quickly stepped in, expressing his concern and urging Singler to reach out for help with the comment, “I love you Kyle. Hit me anytime. Please.“

Kyle Singler’s journey in the NBA began with some promise. Drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2011 with the 33rd overall pick, the 6-foot-8 small forward from Duke was known for his shooting and basketball IQ. In his successful college career, he averaged 16.9 points per game in his final season and won the NCAA Championship with the Blue Devils in 2010. However, he immediately moved to the Spanish Basketball League, joining the team CB Lucentum Alicante of Liga ACB .

The small forward rejoined the Detroit Pistons for the 2012-2013 season. In his rookie NBA season, Singler put up decent numbers averaging 8.8 points and 4 rebounds per game, showing glimpses of his potential as a reliable role player. He spent three seasons with the Pistons before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015.

Although his stats with the Thunder dropped to 3.2 points per game over three seasons, he remained a versatile player off the bench, known for his work ethic and positive influence in the locker room. However, by the end of his contract with the Thunder, Singler had faded from the NBA limelight and eventually moved overseas in 2018 to play with Spanish team Obradoiro in Liga ACB. In 2019, Singler retired from professional basketball altogether, marking an early end to a once promising career.

The dialogue that Love’s response has opened up highlights the need for continued mental health advocacy in professional sports. Singler’s video may have been a cry for help, but it also serves as a reminder that support systems, both professional and personal, are essential for anyone facing hardship. Seam mentioned before, Love has been quite active in helping other players.

Kevin Love’s measures of mental health

In recent years, NBA star Kevin Love has emerged as a significant advocate for mental health, using his own experiences to inspire change. His journey began publicly in 2018 after he opened up about suffering from a panic attack during a match, an experience that highlighted the pressures athletes face.

“After the break, it hit the whole tab. Coach Lue called a timeout in the third quarter. When I got to the bench, I felt my heart beat faster than usual. Then I had trouble catching my breath. It’s hard to describe, but everything was spinning like my brain was trying to crawl out of my head. The air felt thick and heavy,Love said during an interview.

One of his primary steps has been to seek professional therapy, which he openly endorses as crucial to dealing with anxiety and depression. Love has emphasized that speaking with a licensed therapist helped him develop coping mechanisms and better understand his mental health.

“The Cavs helped me find a therapist and I made an appointment. I’m going to have to stop right here and just say, I’m the last person who would have thought I’d be seeing a therapist… He (the therapist) had a feeling that the NBA wasn’t the main reason I was there that day, which proved to be refreshing,” Love said during the same podcast.

In addition to his personal practice, Love established Kevin Love Fund in 2018, an organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, especially for young people. Over the years, the organization has done a lot for society. For example, on April 26, 2020, Kevin Love Fund sent a truckload of lunches to staff at the Cleveland Clinic’s Medical Intensive Care Unit and its COVID-19 testing sites and appeared by FaceTime to personally thank the health care workers there.

Love’s transparency and advocacy continues to help break the stigma surrounding mental health, inspiring athletes and individuals alike to prioritize their mental health. Hopefully the same will work for Kyle Singler.