The league is stepping up, but players must take initiative, too. Here’s how.
By and large, the NBA has been getting good reviews for how it has handled COVID-19. The 2020 playoff bubble was a success. Players who either stepped away from the game or had COVID were supported. The league was able to put on a successful 2020-21 season under difficult conditions.
But even though things have been handled well, there are inevitable concerns.
One issue is the players’ mental health. Let’s face it. The NBA is still not operating under “normal” conditions, and that means even more mental and emotional pressure for the players. Rookies, especially, are stepping into a strange world (for them) and need support.
And while the league is stepping up to help, the responsibility ultimately falls on the players. And there is a path forward. Rookies would do well to follow the example of NBA vets who have found ways to address wellness away from the court. How do they do it? Here are a few examples.
Pursuing Side Hobbies
It’s difficult for pro athletes to spend much time on hobbies because being an NBA player is a ‘round-the-clock job. In the offseason, though, many players like to disconnect and recharge by pursuing hobbies. For instance, some of the most decorated veterans in the league — LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul, are three — have made an offseason hobby out of wine tasting and collecting. Marc Gasol spends some of his spare time farming. And several players, including Klay Thompson to Paul George, go fishing. In fact, players went fishing during the 2020 playoffs!
Learning New Skills
Other players pursue complex skills, and–for some–music becomes the choice. In fact, let’s re-classify “some” as “many.” Kyrie Irving dabbles in saxophone and trombone. Lonzo Ball and Marvin Bagley, among others, pursue hip-hop. Others have taken up musical instruments, including the late Kobe Bryant, who was a fairly dedicated pianist even at the height of his career. The most recent decorated player, Giannis Antetokounmpo (fresh off leading a title run for his Milwaukee Bucks), has been working on his guitar skills.
Travel
Finally, there is travel, which is a popular and effective way to unwind. Granted, this has become a trickier option in the pandemic, but it is still possible. Traveling enables players to escape the grind and recharge body and spirit. And you can’t get much more relaxed than Jimmy Butler does on a gondola in Venice!
https://youtu.be/QPuLFtbFLfA
We have every expectation that the league will provide support and resources that will help rookies stay on top of their mental health. But, for the players’ sake, we hope they, too, will take the initiative to unwind from what everybody knows is a stressful occupation.
