The Trauma of Professional Athletes
“All these players are connected by how they used their childhood trauma to uplift and support them in the journey to get where they are at now.”
Let me tell you the story of Kawhi Leonard, the man with no emotion. Kawhi played for MLK High School and carried them to a 30-3 season. The people around him said he played with passion and enthusiasm. During this same time Kawhi was very close to his father, helping him when he had no games or practices, going to help his father at the car wash he owned.
Then tragedy struck. When Kawhi was 16, his father, Mark Leonard, was shot and killed in front of his car wash in 2008. The day after, Kawhi dropped 17 points in his high school game and after the game cried in his mother's arms. After this people reported Kawhi’s change in personality, which was now shut in and dry. Kawhi continued to finish his high school career, averaging 22 points and 13 rebounds. He later played at San Diego State University, where he averaged 14 points 10 rebounds and 2 assists, and he was then drafted to the NBA to the Pacers.
A reporter asked Kawhi how he was able to play after his father’s death, and he explained: "I think it just gave me a sense and feel that life and basketball are two different things. Just really enjoy your time and moments.”
This is just one of many stories of athletes who had a tragic story and still found a way to persevere.
Another well known athlete a lot of fans love is former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, two-time Super Bowl champion, and hall of fame inductee Ray Lewis. A well known story Ray Lewis has shared many times is about the “52 Cards” or the “Deck Of Motivation.” Ray Lewis grew up in a poor neighborhood in Maryland. He grew up without his biological father but there were multiple father figures in his life. Unfortunately most of these father figures were in and out of Ray Lewis’s family, and some were abusive, and one day he was tired of it. After one of his father figures left his house, he confronted his mother saying the abusiveness won't be a thing in the future. Ray went to his room and grabbed a deck of cards and started to flip them 1-10. If he flipped a 10 of hearts he would do 10 push ups. He did the amount of push-ups based on the number of the card until the deck ended. His motivation behind this is that he wanted to be strong enough to protect his mother. Ray Lewis constantly reminded us that “my greatest pain is the reason I am standing here today.”
Another favorite athlete that is very well known is Kyrie Irving. Kyrie won the 2016 championship and was labeled Rookie of the Year in 2012, and was an NBA All Star 9 times. Kyrie pushes himself so hard because of both his parents. Kyrie was four years old when his mother passed away. Kyrie has stated that since his mother died at a young age, he never really formed a bond with her, but that he still loves her knowing that she would be happy for how far he made it while playing basketball. His father, Derrick Irving, raised Kyrie on his lonesome and had some help from his sister and in-laws. Kyrie's love for the game grew from his father taking him to his adult games. Kyrie looks up to his father and often goes to him for guidance and advice: “My father sacrificed his dream so that I can live mine”.
Another athlete people may know is Lonnie Walker IV. Lonnie Walker grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he would attend school his whole life. He averaged 17.1 points in his senior year of high school at Reading High School. Walker attended University of Miami when he reached college, averaging 12 points coming off the bench. But something terrible happened to Lonnie Walker while he was younger. He was raped, abused, and sexually harassed by someone. Lonnie shared this story because he wants other people who have had these terrible things happen know that they are not alone.
A personal favorite athlete of mine is 4-time NBA All Star John Wall. He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and he lost his Father due him being arrested for armed robbery and murder. He was sentenced to jail where he died a month later. John Wall's older brother promised to take care of the family, but was also later sentenced to time in jail. Now it was John, his mother and his two sisters. John Wall's mother worked multiple jobs to help support the family. John later enrolled in Word of God Academy, where he was kicked out due to him being “too much trouble to handle.” He later joined a Raleigh boys club while his mother taught him the importance of being a better person. Later in life he constantly reminds himself of his mother wanting him to be a better person and uses it for motivation.
All these players are connected by how they used their childhood trauma to uplift and support them in the journey to get where they are at now. They use their story so that those who have similar stories can relate and see how they got through their struggles. They want to be an example of what you can be if you are going through things like this.