Larry Sanders has lifted the curtain on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his months-long absence from the NBA.
In a video posted on Derek Jeter’s Players’ Tribune website, the former Milwaukee Bucks centre explains his decision to walk away from the game.
The 26-year-old opens up about his struggles with anxiety and depression, why basketball has taken a back seat in his life and what he regrets about the decision.
Sanders, who agreed to a buyout with the Milwaukee Bucks last week, hadn’t played since Dec. 23 and was suspended by the NBA on Jan. 16 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He ended up serving a 12-game suspension.
A first-round pick of the Bucks in 2010, Sanders had a tumultuous season with Milwaukee last year after signing a four-year, $44 million contract extension in the summer. He needed surgery on his right thumb following a nightclub altercation and was later suspended five games after testing positive for marijuana. He also missed 25 games with a fractured orbital bone.
Although he hasn’t ruled out a comeback to the NBA, Sanders said his focus at the moment is on his family and devoting energy to the positive relationships in his life.
Sanders averaged 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in five seasons with the Bucks.
