DeMar DeRozan is a star for the Sacramento Kings, known for his clutch plays, silky mid-range jump shots, and high-scoring games.
Fans admire his ability to take over in crunch time, but his impact goes far beyond basketball.
DeRozan has faced depression and suicidal thoughts, and he’s turned his pain into a powerful message of hope.
Through his YouTube series, “Dinners with DeMar,” and his 2024 memoir, Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm, he’s become a beacon for mental health awareness, showing that even the biggest stars can struggle.
Growing up in Compton, California, DeRozan faced a rough environment. Basketball became his way out.
Drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2009, he built an impressive career, earning six NBA All-Star selections in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022, along with three All-NBA Team honors in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
From leading the Raptors to the top of the Eastern Conference to shining with the Chicago Bulls and now the Kings, DeRozan has proven his talent time and again.
Yet, despite his Success, he carried a Heavy Burden Within.
During NBA All-Star Weekend in 2018, held in his hometown of Los Angeles, DeRozan seemed to have it all.
He was an All-Star starter, and his Raptors were leading the Eastern Conference. On the court, everything clicked. Off the court, he was drowning.
Depression weighed him down, leaving him isolated and miserable despite the cheers.
In the early hours of February 17, 2018, he posted a raw tweet: “This depression get the best of me…”
This depression get the best of me…
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) February 17, 2018
Inspired by a Kevin Gates song, those words came straight from his heart. He put his phone down and went to bed, not expecting what was to come next.
When DeRozan woke up, his phone was buzzing with missed calls, texts, and messages. The tweet had gone viral.
Fans, friends, and strangers reached out with support, sharing their own struggles.
He later wrote-:
“Innocently, yet selfishly posting that tweet opened a whole new world to me,”
It was the start of his mental health journey.
That single post showed the world that even a young, rich, famous athlete like DeRozan could battle suicidal thoughts and insecurities.
It also sparked a conversation that reached far beyond him.
Two months later, the NBA took notice. In 2019, the league launched the NBA Mind Health program to raise awareness about mental illness in sports.
The program prioritized therapy and mental wellness for players, both on and off the court. DeRozan’s honesty helped light the way.
Alongside players like Kevin Love, he pushed to break the stigma around mental health.
The program now offers confidential counseling and resources to help players cope, marking a quiet yet powerful shift in a league that once shied away from these topics.
DeMar DeRozan Didn’t Stop with a Tweet
He wanted to keep the conversation going.
In February 2024, he launched “Dinners with DeMar,” a biweekly YouTube series in which he sits down with friends from the NBA world, including.
Draymond Green, Chris Paul, and ESPN’s Malika Andrews. Over casual meals, they talk about life, struggles, and mental health.
DeRozan said.
“Nothing is scripted or rehearsed, just real talk. Every dinner guest I sit down with sparks a different conversation. That’s what makes the series so special and relatable.”
VIa Health
The show’s raw honesty resonates, drawing thousands of viewers who connect with its authenticity.
In September 2024, DeRozan took his advocacy a step further with the publication of his memoir, Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm, by Harmony Books.
With a foreword by Spurs legend Gregg Popovich, the book dives into his darkest moments, times when depression and suicidal thoughts left him bedridden, questioning his worth despite his fame.
DeRozan shares how therapy and growth helped him heal, step by step.
He writes, offering a roadmap for others.
“Do not suppress the anger, guilt, sadness, whatever emotion it might be get it out,”
The book isn’t just his story; it’s a call to face pain and find peace.
Now with the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan continues to shine on the court, but his real impact is off it.
By sharing his battles with depression and suicidal thoughts, he’s saved lives and inspired countless others to seek help.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- DeRozan is the son of Frank and Diane DeRozan.
- DeRozan has a daughter born in 2013 named Diar.
- DeRozan is nicknamed “Deebo” after the character from the 1995 film Friday.
