
Washington Wizards small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. added his perspective to what other NBA players like DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love have opened up about in recent daysātalking about his mental health in an interview on NBC Sportsās āWizards Tipoffā podcast (it starts around the 13:00 mark).
The 22-year-old Oubre, currently in his third NBA season, was uprooted from his childhood home of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina when he was nine years old, and he described in the interview how mindfulness and family helped him handle the anxiety and stress caused by the pressures of the NBA.
āIām really good at keeping a poker face, because when I was growing up my dad always told me, āDonāt let anybody see you weak.ā Nobody sees that Iām weak, but deep down inside, Iām going through a lot. Hell is turning over,ā Oubre said.
āJust being mindful is the only way I know how to get through any anxiety, any depression, anything like that.ā
He also talked about how, as an athlete, the public perception of his incredible physical talents doesnāt always match whatās going on internally.
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āI feel like people who are on the outside looking in donāt really understand, because they see us as superheroes, but weāre normal people,ā he said. āWe go through the issues that normal people go through times 10.ā
Oubre also talked about his father, who he praised as a stabilizing, peaceful influence on his life. Kelly Oubre, Sr. appears to be closely involved in his sonās basketball career. From the NBC Sports article accompanying the podcast:
To remember where he came from, all Oubre has to do is look into the stands at Capital One Arena, just a dozen or so rows to the right of the Wizardsā locker room tunnel, where his father Kelly Oubre, Sr. sits for every game. Oubre, Sr. keeps a close eye and gives advice and discipline where needed.
Last spring, when Oubre, Jr. was suspended for Game 4 of the Wizardsā playoff series against the Boston Celtics, he stayed at home to watch the game with his father. Each time Oubre, Jr. celebrated big plays by his teammates, his father reminded him that he should be there and not at home on the couch watching on TV.
After a recent game where Oubre had a poor shooting night, his father pulled him aside near the locker room for a chat before Oubre had even changed out of his jersey.
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āHeās a crutch that I use to stand on,ā Oubre Jr. said. āWhen I play bad, Iām a little harder on myself than I should be, and heās there to calm me down.ā