It is a tough pill to swallow when you’ve made mistakes, and an even bitter one too when it’s so public. Lamar Odom understands how difficult the situation is for Draymond Green for the latter contemplated retirement after overwhelming discussions surrounding his suspension and on-court behavior. Unlike the rest, Odom took a sympathetic approach and even remembered his son while doing so.

“The way he (Draymond Green) plays, if somebody of his heart is not into his game, then he has no value… Mental health is important for all of us… My son passed away, and I had to keep—I almost retired because of that. But everybody goes through things off the court,” said Lamar Odom in a recent episode of ‘The LADE’ show.

While playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, adversity struck Odom as his 6-month-old son passed away from SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 2006. That night, Odom was partying in Manhattan. But a call from his then-girlfriend changed his whole world. Jayden wouldn’t wake up. Odom drove from Manhattan to Long Island to be with his family. Losing his child with Liza Morales affected him mentally.

Although it is often difficult for fans to separate the athlete from the human, Odom can understand what Draymond Green is going through. He wanted Green to figure things out and get back on the court. Odom’s wish has come true as Draymond Green recently made his return to the Golden State Warriors. He suited up in their recent game against the Grizzlies, where he played 23 minutes.

The athlete was ready to retire after being handed a suspension for hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić last month. That was just one of the altercations on his long list. But the 33-year-old changed his mind after speaking to Adam Silver- Commissioner of the NBA. As explained by Green on ‘The Draymond Green Show’, Silver derailed his rash decision.

Draymond Green is not the only athlete who has struggled

Green is one of the few who has openly talked about his thoughts of retiring from the NBA. There are many athletes who have had similar personal struggles. Ben Simmons also took a time to get himself in the right headspace to make his return to the court after all the noise from the media. In November 2022, he opened up about his mental health. “I still wasn’t ready in my head. I wasn’t in a place to get on the court and play,” he shared with ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.

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Players like DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love have taken time off with personal struggles as well in the past. Back in 2018, DeRozan revealed he was struggling with depression and anxiety. “I always have various nights… I’ve always been like that since I was young, but I think that’s where my demeanor comes from.”

More recently, Ricky Rubio announced his retirement from the NBA after struggling with his mental health. In a statement, he mentioned, “One day, when the time is right, I would love to share my full experience with you all so I can help support others going through similar situations. Until then, I would like to keep it private out of respect for my family and myself, as I’m still working on my mental health.”

Clearly, there is so much that top athletes go through. What do you think of Lamar Odom empathizing with Draymond Green? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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