During today’s episode of ESPN's morning show Get Up, former NBA player & ESPN analyst Jay Williams fired back at Charles Barkley, explaining why his recent comments about Adam Silver’s statements on anxiety and depression among NBA players--by citing how much money NBA players are worth and how they have no reason to be sad or complain--were upsetting, and how they only create more challenges for people struggling with anxiety and depression to open up about their issues.
“You may have made money and been a superstar, but you don’t walk in the shoes of those individuals. So show empathy towards that and let’s help people saying that, ‘I have issues,’ instead of attacking them. I get pissed off about that.”
Williams, is one of the most outspoken mental health advocates among the NBA community, having overcome his own personal battles with depression and anxiety after a motorcycle accident abruptly ended his NBA career, after his rookie season.
.@RealJayWilliams “fervently disagrees” with Charles Barkley’s reaction to Adam Silver’s comments. pic.twitter.com/soRwKKH8IA
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 7, 2019