Australia’s Ryan Broekhoff, a former Dallas Mavericks full-back in the NBA, will be skipping the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health issues, he said on Friday.
The 30-year-old basketball player wants to be in good mental and physical condition to play at his best but “I am not there at the moment”, he regretted. This year he wore the colors of South East Melbourne.
“It’s time to ask for help”
“My sanity is something that I have struggled with for a long time and I believe it is important for me to admit that things are not going (right now) and that it is time to ask for help. “ he added.
“To play at this level, the team needs me to be 100%. I cannot, in all conscience, say that I am able to be ”, explains the player in a press release from the Australian basketball federation.
In nearly two full seasons with the Mavericks, Broekhoff had turned 40.3% with three points. Australia will miss that strength and experience as they seek a medal in Japan. She finished 4th at the Rio Games in 2016.
.
