Kevin.

Great to have you with us, Kevin.

We talked in the introduction about the mental health professionals that will now be a part of teams in the n.

B.

A.

What impact do you think this will have on players who need mental health services?

Yeah, I think it remains to be seen.

The important thing is we're continuing to have that dialogue throughout the league.

I think it's, ah, you know, a very important thing to continue to change the stigma and change the conversation around mental health on end in sports.

I believe that this is something that transcends any walk of life and no one that you know, we have so many games coming out of so fast.

We have that sense of isolation.

We have, you know, a lot of weight and a number of things on our shoulders as well as you know, something that I learned was.

Success is not immune to depression, so I think it's just allowing ourselves toe kind of take a look in the mirror and assess where we're at while also being able to work with the league, knowing that that we have these mental health professionals and professionals that we can use at our disposal.

It can only be a good thing, but I think it's going to continue to evolve.

But we're kind of at the ground floor level right now, and I know that throughout the league, especially with the players, a lot of them are coming forward.

Haven't shared their story necessarily publicly, but are having the conversations, you know, with even those mental health professionals with their teams or with the league.

And just hearing that.

Hey, we need help.

I'm dealing with a family member.

I'm dealing with myself in the first person, so we'll continue the conversation.

I think it's a good one that we're having, and I'm proud of the league for no.

Continue to take that step forward and helping us.

I'm curious to the n b.

A.

Ask for your input on this on how to structure this program.

Yeah, I think it was not only myself, but you know, a number of players in the league and as I mentioned, I had many conversations with with Adam Silver regarding this topic as well as a number of people at the league at the N B, a.

P A and a number of players who came up to me after I had you talked about my article and the follow upset that came from there the last 12 18 24 months.

So it's been very, very positive.

It's been, ah, great conversations to have with guys or, you know, a number of family members that certain players will have that are dealing with something and just being ableto have that conversation and, you know, be within arm distance and be able to help them.

Kevin, part of the conversation around mental health is people may be going through something, but they feel uncomfortable sharing it, even with a professional.

So what in this program do you think needs to happen specifically for this to have an impact to help players come forward to these professionals with their problems and seek help?

Yeah, I think it's one thing I mean, you mentioned it for it to be accessible, but also to be able to put it to good use.

Um, you know, I was fortunate to being a situation and, you know, have something close to me in my therapist and kind of be taken in the right direction in orderto work with work with them out in Cleveland.

So I think it's just, um, you know, adjusting Teoh kind of the social climate, that we're in a swell as the NBA's climate and be able to just use what we have at our disposal.

But it's one thing to, you know, put this in place.

It's another thing to have it evolve over time and put into action and see how it can best be used for the players and to get the best out of them on the floor.

Okay, you know Liz can base place for the WNBA's.

She recently wrote an article about how she had to take two games off to deal with mental health issues.

You know, you open a box for and you'll see players.

You'll see a DNP for a knee issue or load management these days.

Arrest.

Do you think players should be able to take games off?

Have a DNP for mental health?

Well, that's a Yeah.

I mean, that's a fine line to walk, but I got to say, Liz, I'm very proud of her being able to share her story.

It was something that on my social platforms I made sure that people knew about.

And, uh, I'm just happy for that.

She's able to admit it.

I think only by admitting who you are, what you're dealing with, do you get what you want.

So just bring in and furthering the conversation.

You know about this not only is athletes, but in all walks of life can is very important and can only be a good thing.

But, um, you know, it's tough to say.

I think mental health and mental illness ticks many shapes and forms and how and there's MBT ambiguity and how you're able to deal with it.

And I think everybody is different and everybody is dealing with stress or anxiety or depression and so on and so forth in a different way.

But, you know, I think if it comes to that potentially, But it's, you know, I think it's gonna It's something that's going to continue to evolve and we're going to see and, you know, in any type of business, being able to take a mental health day or finding a way to work with the therapist, just get the best out of yourself when you're going through those times and games air coming at you so fast, cause that could be You know, once you have those blinders on and you get you're in the situation like that and you're feeling something for so long, there's tend to be things that you miss out on That number of therapy and things that you can do to relieve those symptoms can really help.

So it's something you'd like to see something that we could potentially see.

Actually, in my home state of Oregon, there was a number of kids who went to the state capital and pushed for, um, you know, days where you could take, you know, use, you know, whatever you're going through and mental health days instead of sick days.

And, you know, a lot of people are saying, Well, kids already making up that there, you know, they're sick or their, you know, feeling something in missing days of school.

But, um, you know, I think mental health days, especially at that age and at that capacity and having so much ability to change, can only be positive.

So there is something there that translates even into professional sports or a business setting.

But that remains to be seen.

I think it's something that's going to continue to evolve and something that could potentially happen.

But as of right now, you know, we get paid to play handsomely, and, uh, you know, we got to go out there 82 games and perform okay.

Kevin Love, Thank you so much.

Appreciate the time.

I appreciate you.

Thanks.

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