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Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond missed Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers after opening up about his mental health on social media.
Drummond posted on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon outlining a plan to delete all social media apps, change his phone number and hand over control of his accounts to his management team.
“Time to focus on my mental health,” Drummond wrote. “If you too are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. It’s okay to ask for help.”
Drummond shared the same post to his Instagram account, adding, “It’s never too late to ask for help.” He received an immediate outpouring of support from current and former NBA players, including Isiah Thomas, Danny Green and Kevin Love.
A venerable rebounder and 11-year veteran, Drummond has been stalwart as a backup center in his first season with the Bulls, averaging 6.7 rebounds and 6.1 points in 12.8 minutes off the bench.
Coach Billy Donovan offered support for Drummond during pregame availability Wednesday, adding that he texted Drummond to convey that the team is behind him. With seven games left in the season entering Wednesday, the Bulls have not shared a timeline on Drummond’s potential return, but Donovan said the center might travel with the team to Charlotte, N.C., for Friday’s game against the Hornets.
“Your heart goes out for anybody,” Donovan said. “There’s a human side and personal side to all these guys, and you feel bad when anybody is going through something like that. You try to give as much support as you can. We have the resources inside the organization to help.”
Conversations surrounding mental health are not new in the Bulls locker room, which is led by DeMar DeRozan — one of the league leaders on breaking the taboo of discussing the subject. DeRozan talked in-depth with the Toronto Star in 2018 about his history with depression and anxiety. Since then, DeRozan has become a symbol for mental health advocacy in the NBA, connecting regularly with fans and players to share their journeys.
Donovan said DeRozan’s presence has helped the Bulls address their experiences involving mental health issues — including Drummond’s current challenge.
“Sometimes when people look at these guys, (they) see these NBA stars, and all this stuff that comes with it and they think, ‘Gosh, their lives must be absolutely perfect,’ ” Donovan said. “And they’re not. We’re all flawed. We all have challenges and issues to deal with. … There’s maybe a level of inspiration or hope that he can give somebody.”
The Bulls entered the game in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, 1 ½ games behind the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors and 2 ½ games ahead of the Washington Wizards.
