Larry Sanders - Why I Walked Away From the NBA: Players' POV 

People bashing the dude cause he's walking away from a career where he plays basketball and makes millions. Isn't he real to WALK AWAY from that? Leaving that fame to find his right path and putting his energy where he wants to put it. Society is so backwards in thinking.This is real as it gets. Good luck to this dude.

The media gave the impression that he was a druggie, but he is clearly intelligent and obviously aware enough to realize the NBA life is not for him. Keep your head up my brother!!!

Respect.

This is what a real person looks like. I think there are even more NBA players who have this kind of personality but they can't speak up because of their corporate sponsors. Everything has to be politically correct so they really can't say much but just sound robotic as they usually do. I'm glad there is somebody like Larry to break that mold but unforntualy it also means he's no longer in the league. But all respect to him and I hope we see even more of him in the future.

i always loved this guy, he was a beast and keeps it real.... i hope he returns

Larry, my wife and I watched you play for VCU back when we lived in Virginia, and oddly enough are moving to Wisconsin. While, I wish I could see you play live in the NBA I fully support your decision to follow your dreams. Much respect and much love to you and your's. Peace.

he spoke, and he was clear, if you've got ears. 👏👌💪💯💯

Bruh this guy was a beast for the bucks he needs to return he had a triple double with 10 blocks 🔥

First off.. What a fantastic perspective this guy has on life and its meaning. Very intelligent. I didn't know much about Larry before watching this. I feel now that I made a lot of very wrong assumptions about him and his priorities. I saw that he left the league(basically) because of weed and a bar fight and that was frankly just untrue. It struck me as immature. After watching this I think that The Celtics could be a fantastic destination for him. First because of his personality and how it could benefit the team. And second because of the players and coaches that would surround him and how they could benefit him and his game. This Celtics team has a way of bringing out the best in character guys. I believe that a guy like this would have a lot to gain from joining this team and believe he could also offer the Celtics the top of his game.

Much respect! I came to this video expecting to laugh, but I walked away inspired.

I have all the respect in the world for him. Most people still dont realize depression is a real thing, a really bad thing. I dealed with it myself and I know how hard it is and how you feel. And you can see it could happen to anyone and it is important he made that clear. I never was a fan of him but I really like him for doing this! RESPECT!

If I played for the Bucks I'd be depressed too

RESPECT LARRY! YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR COURAGE!

I loved watching Larry play for my Bucks, and he's the reason I started watching more basketball a couple years back. But more than that, I'm happy for him as a human being. I hope he finds contentment and fulfillment on his own terms.

This gets me almost to the verge of shedding a tear. Depression hurts, seek help and comfort, be strong. Hope you make a comeback, good luck.

as a person who knew larry in passing in high school and talked to him briefly i respect the dude's decision to walk away from the nba i can only imagine the stress of being pushed to win and when ur not and it gets to you and depresses you i can relate my disability can get me depressed sometimes weekly but i live with it and go foward if you really think about it why continue doing something that is not making you happy happiness is greater then any amount of money!!!

wow. I was one of those people who was mad when they heard that he was walking away from the money and the fame, but now I understand it. Much respect to Larry, and much respect to him making sure he thanked the bucks and wanting them to know it had nothing to do with them or the fans.

Eye opening. Surprised to see he is such an articulate and deep thinking guy after the being lambasted by the media, internet trolls and the like as if he were a piece of nba property, which (to an extent) is what you seem become when you ink a pro deal. Hard not to applaud Larry for putting the brakes on ball and taking control of his life to focus on his "real riches...lasting wealth", although the selfish part of me would still love to see him in a Mavericks jersey!

Mental Health is extremely important. Often times, people would rather go for THE MONEY than go for their Mental Stability. I applaud Larry Sanders because he did not allow money to become his master. He has a plethora of talent. Who knows what he might exhale at in the near future. Options: many of us do not strive to have to many of them. He has been blessed with many OPTIONS! Never allow the world or them therein to dictate your future! DO YOU LARRY! Congratulations on choosing MENTAL HEALTH!

Grew a great amount of respect for LS. Peace

For all those who think it's a waste of talent...open up your mind...people have many talents and ways to benefit society. Additionally, you don't know what he is going through. I have some experience. I am a 6'5 240lb athlete who, if I pursued basketball would of went on to play college and maybe overseas. My senior year of ball however (2011) I was suffering a lot with depression and maybe some on set of mental illness symptoms. We were having a great season, as I was really contributing to the team and things were working out well but my home life was deteriorating and I was having a hard time dealing with it. It got so bad that right before playoffs I had to let my team know that I could no longer play with them. I needed to get to help that I was requiring. I was suicidal and extremely depressed. After leaving the team I was able to check myself into a mental health clinic for a month where I was able to get my thoughts together and ultimately figure out what was important to me in life. Sometimes in life you have to do what you have to do. DONT PUT A PRICE TAG ON HEALTH AND HAPPINESS!! It angers me and makes me sad to see comments like that because clearly you dont know what youre talking about :) Larry is a real person with problems and feelings just like any body else. Just because he had a high profile job people are taking it a little too serious. He will be of much more benefit to society when he is happy and healthy. There are many ways to give back and use your talents. Don't limit us to lucrative, spotlight roles because you wish you were there thus your judgment is clouded. I feel you Larry! You may not see this but I feel your pain and wish you the best! God bless.

you are a great guy Larry, take care

Mad RESPECT to this man he tells you what is really like in the NBA

I went to watch a game with the heat vs bucks and he was ejected after two technicals. I was pretty disappointed to see him leave the game because he's so talented and gifted but i could tell that mentally he was going through a lot because he had a track record of getting techs. It's interesting to see this now because it gives me a better understanding of what he was going through. At the end of the day we're all human and money doesn't dictate how happy you are. I respect his decision to reach out for help and get his mind right cause athletes need that mental edge to succeed. I wish i could see some of his art

this dude is better than Timofey Mosgov. He should go back and sign a 1 year deal, then show the league he is still a starting center caliber. Then cash in Mosgov money next year.

Loved the comments about And. Too often we get stuck in No. Stick an And, Maybe, Possible into that frame.

got him as a free agent in my league nba2k16. chicago bulls - we are currently in the finals vs the okc :)

My man killin it on my mycareer tho.

I very much admire Larry for being brave enough to step away from the NBA, mental health is not something that should be taken lightly

I honestly wish him the best. Anxiety and depression aint no joke. It's not about money and fame, it's about getting "mentally healthy".

I have been fired from many jobs because of depression, anxiety and panic attacks. So I feel where you coming from.

Yooo I remember this guy now, he was on my 2k my-player team. He couldn't get a rebound to save his life lol but I wish him the best of luck. Respect.

I AGREE...SUCCESS IS THE TRUE HAPPINESS ONE CAN OBTAIN.... MONEY CAN PAY THE BILLS , BUT IT ALSO CAN DESTROY YOU IF YOU AREN'T TRULY HAPPY.. I HOPE THE BEST . AND THE GAME WILL FIND YOU IN A BETTER PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME..

He mentions anxiety and depression..some people may call that an excuse or just say a person is weak, but those 2 things DO have the ability to derail ANYONE. At the end of the day, only he knows what he feels, so none of us can judge.

Going to the Warriors !!!

well the dude has made at least $44 million over the last 4 years from playing basketball. he's got more than enough to live off of the rest of his life. I would consider doing the same thing if I had all his talents and a huge stack of cash.

This dude so down to earth. Respect for him

Wow. I'm impressed with how he chose to handle his life. I love he with down a list of all the things he was and then mentioned Basketball. he did it well but it wasn't everything.

Seems like a real nice guy! Glad he's on the cavs and hope he's well.

Article should read why is he getting millions per year still after quitting basketball? Larry is the King of all DB's.

I look a happy dude but I hardly ever am. I hope Larry finds the peace I am looking for.

People thinks he's stupid for leaving the NBA but it's something I would do if I wasn't really happy about... He's real for leaving the fame and fortune behind him for something he can do to make him happier while he's still young...

This kid is real! I now him personally. He is more than genuine. It is awesome to see that a young african american man is in search of his calling. It is something that you take note of.

Continue building upon your happiness brutha!!! God Bless!

Sanders (like Bernie) is an idealist which is the the cause for depression..having low expectations of people & situations is key to happiness

Stay smiling Larry. Depression and anxiety are no joke.

can't wait to see him become a champion this summer! what a brave man

They say Rodman almost committed suicide before joining the Bulls after already winning DPOY In Detroit. You never know what's in a dudes heart but he made a choice for himself and he seems happier for it. Some people got different struggles.

Time to start mature up people, he does what he wants to do, and if you can't admire to what he is saying than you probably didn't hear what he is saying or not even try to open your heart, money and fame can't buy happiness and so what if he doesn't take the opportunity to become a star in the nba, i mean if he doesn't feel like he is going to commit in the nba than his performance would just suffer as the result. Good luck to you Larry Sanders.

smart guy, wish him the best with the cavs, keep injury free fingers crossed.

We never know a person's entire story. I respect his decision to leave the league and wish him the very best!

hes has many mix emotions its tough to live like this, need to handle stuffs like a nba series 1 by 1.

He doesn't have to worry about money anymore and honestly if the passion isn't there anymore what's the point do what u want

Who was here because of Giannis Book Revelation about how his former coach punish him in bucks

To those who do not understand, he did not leave and totally got broke. The dude is smart. He signed a contract first, played 60 games, and then quit. His contract had guaranteed money from the Bucks. He will be getting $1.9 Million every year until 2022 without playing a single game. Given that's not equivalent to 44 Million 4 years he was supposed to get if he played ball, still. That's a lot of money for someone not showing up. :) So he gets to pursue other things he is passionate about, like being an artist and what not and still earn money from basketball. That's pretty smart.

So much respect. Seriously.

*Larry Sanders POV: Why He Walked Away from the NBA* Mental health and wellbeing are much more valuable than any big-money contract. And especially in Larry's case, it takes a lot of courage to face the realities (and the critics) of stepping away from what many perceive as a gold-paved path. What many people fail to understand is that being a professional athlete is not easy. The expectations, the commitment, and the sacrifices are overwhelming and unseen by most looking in from the outside. For someone dealing with depression or anxiety, this would quickly take its toll on one's psyche. It's okay to talk about depression. It is real. It is also okay to follow your passions on a path to inner tranquility. As the saying goes, "You do you." Good luck, Larry! #LarrySanders #NBA #Depression #Anxiety

Money really can't buy happiness.

Some of you teenagers in the comment section will never understand, that whilst, yes, it is nice to have money, it is merely a tool to provide you with a thing or two. It is NOT the thing that is going to bring you this new kind of joy, health or even happiness. If he quit the league, because (like so many of you fools think) he wanted to smoke weed, then that's his foolish mistake. If you listen closely, you'll see that it's a little bit more complicated than that. If he can live with his decision and he's happy, shit... who am I to judge? Good luck, Larry.

The sooner depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are removed from the list of topics that we should never talk about, the better off society will be. Very best of luck to the guy moving forward.

Wow, it's amazing how wrong our first impressions and perceptions can be. I totally wrote this dude off as lazy and unfocused in my mind. Truth is, he's a real deep cat, an artistic, creative dude who has a real rich sense of things. That is a league of the most super-competitive people in the whole world, it's not for everybody and it probably eats up dudes who are a bit more sensitive and intuitive like Larry. The joke is on me and people like me for judging the dude with no sense of who he really is. Good luck bro.

Whose here after it was revealed in the Giannis biography why Larry walked away from the nba

He quit basketball for weed. I listened to what he said and I understood what he said but I didn't believe him. Sounds like a hipster.

he sign a 4 year 44 million he be ight

Larry is a great dude, all the best to him in figuring out his path.

Never know what people going thru. Cool to hear from you!

Larry Sanders is the realest dude. I think basketball was just an outlet to getting that money for his fam. now he at a level to do and be himself.

It amazes me how on one hand fans lament the fact that these athletes make millions of bucks just by 'putting a ball through a hoop', but in the same breath will criticize and call into question the intelligence of a player who walks away from those millions (the same money they say they're getting too much of for simply playing a sport) in order to follow their muse and detach themselves from the manufactured world most celebrities and athletes have to navigate through (something Larry touched on in this video).God bless Larry and I definitely hope he finds joy in his future goals in life.

I respect his decision, but I just think it's a waste of talent. He has tons of potential and him on the young bucks team will have such a bright future. But ig u can't make him play

do what makes you happy bro! this is proof that money doesn't bring happiness it's your passion that brings it money is just a vehicle (a tool)

Hmm his story reminds me of ricky williams

Every year we see players stay in the league that clearly don't want to be there, play without heart or passion, and just do it for the money. Much respect and mad love to this guy for admitting his demons, facing them, and not being blinded by the all mighty illusion called $money$. Great roll model for others, there's always another path, happiness is a journey, not a destination.

i thought for a second i was listening to myself think. we know money cant make us happy, but a lack of money can drive you to desire money out of survival, because without money, this society we live in will destroy us. and thats my biggest problem. i live a hypocritical life because everyday i wake up for my meaningless 9-5 job that i need just to live, but at the same time im thinking to myself, i hate money, i dont want to be rich, i dont want a bunch of material possessions, i just want to live and be happy.... so my dream is to one day not need money to survive, my dream is to farm and be self sustainable, to grow my own food and medicine. i think larry and me are pretty similar, the difference being you were gifted an nba body. and with that gift you were also given freedom. freedom you had to earn through the nba, where you felt hypocritical. my freedom will be earned through a 9-5 job and the hard work i will need to put in on a farm. im very happy for you larry, live your life. and thanks for saying cannabis and not weed or marijuana.

I am a Bucks fan and enjoyed watching Larry play during his time there. I hope-if he so decides-to see him play pro ball again.

He read mozgov got 64 million and decided it was a hasty decision. seems like a nice guy though. LA or the BAY area if weed is a consideration, lol.

bob marley of basketball~

my name is Larry and I'm a person! xD

imagine a healthy larry sanders with the bucks in the line up right now 2017

I used to high five him all the time when he ran through the tunnel. He was a good player

He quit because he wouldn't pass drug screenings... he smokes weed like most of us but was being paid millions so he had to make a choice lol

This is a really good man.

he just wanted to smoke some kush and not get fined

Truth is weed isn't going no where but if he don't learn to deal with life then his opportunity will dwindle.

he is also an engineer, doctor, accountant and a lawyer. lol

I was in the NBA...then I got high then I got high then I got highhhhhhhh ~Larry Sanders

Hope he makes it back to the league and feels better

i will still play with u in NBA2k15

he looks like the Jordan crying meme

come back and play for my lakers we could use you

Much respect to this man. Genuine and speaking from an all encompassing perspective

Good for you bro... good for all of us. Respect your bravery and honesty, for real.

Respect and good luck for Larry and his family! He is finally doing what HE wants!

"I make 11 million dollars a year to play ball but i'm depressed". STOP!

With great talent and gifts comes great pressure everyone handles it differently

I want to focus on other things like drugs and poetry, but I'll still hold my employer over the barrel for a contract I know longer wish to fulfill. There's a summary for you.

Do people not understand that he suffers from Anxiety which is a medical condition and is actually dangerous. He is also not the only athlete to ever have this problem Before John Madden became the football 🏈 gaming success he was actually a very good football coach of the Oakland Raiders. He was forced to retire because it was discovered that due to his Anxiety he could not fly. He became a broadcaster and went from game to game in a custom made bus 🚌. There are athletes in every sport and every level that have this condition. There are everyday people who have this condition and they go out on disability. Trust and believe that there are no guaranteed contracts for just walking away. He had to prove his medical condition and then his contract was pro rated. There is no business model where a person can sign there name for 44 million dollars and just walk away and collect it without providing any services.

going to the cavs

Bro made millions, he don't need to play. If he was broke he would play.

Very well-spoken and articulate young man. Wish the best for him, and hope to see him display his talents on the court in the near future.

Wow people are such liars troydan said he left the nba to smoke weed