Former VCU basketball star Larry Sanders has left the NBA to seek treatment for anxiety and depression.
Former VCU basketball star Larry Sanders has left the NBA to seek treatment for anxiety and depression. A video was released by athlete run PlayersTribune.com where he told his side of the story on his buyout from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sanders signed a four-year contract extension for $44 million with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. The VCU star joined the Bucks and played under his rookie contract until signing the big extension in 2013 then the problems started. He has played just 50 games the last two seasons for the Bucks due to injury, failing NBA drug testing on 4 different occasions and time missed for personal reasons. He addresses his drug use in the video.
“Cannabis came later on in my life. It was, for me, used medically for some of the symptoms that I was having due to a lot of stress and pressure I was under,” he said. “I think this is seen to be a desirable lucrative job and position. People say ‘How can you not be at happy there? How can that be a place where you don’t want to be?’ Value is in relationships with the people I love around me. That’s my real riches. That’s the lasting wealth.”
His buyout was reported to be in the $13-15 million dollar range. Not bad for a VCU alum playing professional sports, and if his cited reasons are the truth, we wish him nothing but the best. No one should have to play a sport they have no desire for. However, his video response to fans and the timeline of actions come across as a bit tainted because he waited to cash out. Did the money (and weed) cause you depression and anxiety? Did you cash out first then go about your life without fulfilling your contractual promise to the Bucks? Here is the twitterverse reaction.
#LarrySanders video-Best wishes, but then why did #Bucks have pay you out of contract? Taints his departure.
https://t.co/IqdIHyLNu7
— Dr. Michael Berglund (@Dr_Berglund) February 26, 2015
I normally don't care about athletes being paid tons of money, but in situations like this it drives me insane. What a joke. #LarrySanders
— Cameron Billes (@CamBilles) February 25, 2015
When a guy making $15 million dollars to play a game tries to compare himself to someone working 9-5, he's out of touch #LarrySanders
— Tim W. (@the_picketfence) February 25, 2015
Wow walked away from $44m at 26..
#LarrySanders
"I'm Larry Sanders a person father artist painter musician and some times play basket ball"
— Talha Khokhar (@Khokhar_Talha) February 26, 2015
And this last one sums it up.
#LarrySanders explains why he walked away from the #NBA. It’s all about happiness, not riches http://t.co/IgD1uDcKzD
— Alex Christoforou (@alexwadja) February 26, 2015
Sure is nice to have both.
