Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West admits that he has battled depression since childhood. West was beaten by his father, and this caused low self-esteem issues in the future NBA great. West said his childhood in West Virginia was missing love and was filled with anger because of his father’s actions.
“I would go to bed feeling like I didn’t even want to live. I’ve been so low sometimes and when everyone else would be so high because I didn’t like myself.”
The abuse got so bad that at the age of 12, West kept a shotgun under his bed and threatened to use it against his father. However, West still wonders if his father would have been proud of his NBA success.
Fortunately, the depression did not bother West as much during his 14-year NBA career as he was too focused on becoming the best basketball player he could be.