Kyle Singler, former Detroit and Oklahoma City player, posted worrying videos on Instagram: «They treat me like a mental example. I think there’s a purposeful purpose behind all of this.” Kevin Love launches the appeal: «Let’s not leave him alone»
Only a few days after yet another arrest of Delonte Westthere is another former professional player to arouse the concern of Nba. It’s about Kyle Singlerformer small forward of Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma Thunder e Real Madrid who on Instagram – in a profile apparently created ad hoc in recent days – sends a message about his health conditions, denouncing “abuse” and declaring “that he fears for his life”.
Four videos published in two days, lasting about a minute each, in which the former player, shirtless and wearing only a pair of trousers, appears gaunt and visibly thinner, in the center of an empty room lit only by a spotlight. Between the tone of voice and the sentences often pronounced with difficulty and not always logically, one senses that the series of posts shared could be a request for help, in the face of an apparent pathological case.
The complaint by Kyle Singler, former NBA
«I need to make an announcement because I feel that my voice is being suffocated – began the former American basketball player (6 seasons in the NBA with 6.5 points on average, last professional season with Tenerife in 2019) speaking with difficulty and with long pauses, without making it clear where he is living -. Every day harsh and untrue things are said about me. I was mistreated, neglected and abused. The people who are part of my community make me look like someone who will become a problem and who will make life impossible for those around him, when in fact I’m just trying to make myself useful.” It is not clear who and what Singler is referring to, with the addition of an even more worrying complaint in the following seconds of the video. «They treat me as a mental example (perhaps they mean mentally ill, ed.). I think there’s a purposeful purpose behind it all. I fear for my life every day.” In the following videos the former player refers to the end of his career as a basketball player and how “he was held hostage by new situations, separated from the people around him”. However, the video ends abruptly, while Singler is still speaking. In the third and fourth videos he tries to repeat the same concepts, always expressing great suffering and discomfort, in the difficulty of communicating his problems clearly.
The reaction of colleagues
On Instagram, most users commented on the video, inviting those who know him to stay close to him, to help him, and reference is made to the NBA itself and to those who, at the time, had played with him. The reaction of some US basketball stars was not long in coming. Among the first to intervene Kevin Love of the Miami Heat, but also Isaiah Thomas of the Phoenix Suns and Andre Drummond of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Words of encouragement and an invitation to lend a hand to his loved ones too. «He needs help, to be listened to, perhaps simply love and affection – wrote Love -. To the NBA family, to the family of the Duke Blue Devils (team with which he grew professionally at university, ed.), let’s not leave one of us alone.” The player also directly commented on Singler’s post: “Please Kyle, write to me any time, please.” Words similar to those written under the video by Drummond. “You’re not alone brother, I’m here for you.” Followed closely by Chandler Parsons, former Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks: “You’re not just a friend, we’re with you.”
