Kevin Love: “Guys Don’t Want To Reveal Too Much” About Mental Health

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love says that NBA players are still scared to come forward with mental health issues. 

Kevin Love suffered a panic attack against the Atlanta Hawks in November 2017. His heart was beating so fast that he tried to stick his hand down his throat to dislodge what he thought was impairing his breathing.

The experience left him in a crumpled heap in the locker room. Since then, Love has had therapy, found a medication that works for him and established the Kevin Love Fund. 

In his role as an advocate for mental health normalization, Love can see that his fellow professionals are still reluctant to speak out.

Want $250 to bet on NBA futures?

Sign up here!

“Guys don’t want to reveal too much,” Love said. 

“There are so many people who still perceive this as a weakness. Players get scared if they talk about mental health, it will affect their future. They worry, ‘What does my owner think? What does my GM think? Is he going to trade me?’ I was lucky. The Cavs have been incredibly supportive.”

Another mental health stigma centers around medication in that it is perceived as another weakness. 

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that my struggles with mental health aren’t ever going away. That’s just not a reality. The medication helps me feel a little better in my own skin and my own brain. Whatever imbalance I have, this has helped me find more relief.”

Read: Jets Signing Joe Flacco Puts Pressure On Sam Darnold

“Listen, I don’t have all the answers — and likely never will,” he  said. “But speaking from experience, I can tell you there are resources out there that can help you.

“It’s really scary what’s going on in the world right now. But you don’t have to suffer through it alone. Take it from someone who did that for far too long.”