J. R. Smith reveals he played 70% of his 16-year NBA career depressed
“I went through things with my mental health consistently long enough to where I feel like I probably played 70% of my career depressed”
“That's why I love Kevin Love because he talks about it all the time. The mental aspect of it, the emotional side, the depression, all of that. Getting hurt and not being able to play. Getting hooked on pills. Bro, I went through all of that”
“I played for the Knicks. I tore my meniscus. I had to sit out. They rushed me back. I'm hurting the whole time. I got addicted to pain pills”
“They know it. But nobody comes and says, ‘Yo man, you good? What can we do to help you?’ Nah, ‘He's terrible. He's this. He's that. Ship him to Cleveland. He's a throw in for the trade’”
“I'm dealing with a lot of shit. Y'all don't care. You literally don't care at all. You just throw more dirt on my name and move me”
“I just won Sixth Man of the Year for y'all”