Tyrell Terry retired from basketball aged just 22 after experiencing “the darkest parts of his life” on the court

TYRELL TERRY has opened up about his mental health struggles after retiring from basketball aged just 22.

The former Stanford guard revealed that he experienced the “darkest times of his life” while playing in the NBA.

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Terry was picked 31st overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 2020.

He was drafted after a freshman campaign at Stanford in which he averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Terry’s stay in Dallas was short-lived as he was assigned to his G-League partner The Hustle.

He joined the Memphis Grizzlies last season but was released in July.

He only played 13 games in his NBA career, with his last appearance almost a year ago.

Terry took to his Instagram page on December 15 to announce he was retiring from the sport.

He wrote: “Today I decided to let go of the game that has been a big part of my identity.

“Something that has guided my path since I took my first steps.

“While I’ve achieved amazing success, created unforgettable memories, and made lifelong friends… I’ve also experienced the darkest times of my life.

“To the point where it started destroying me instead of building me up. When I began to despise and question the worth of myself far more than those around me could ever see or know.

“Intrusive thoughts, waking up with nausea and difficulty breathing normally because the stone seemed to be resting on my chest and seemed to weigh more than I could carry.

“This is just a brief description of the fear this sport has brought me and while I am grateful for every door it has opened for me, I can no longer continue this fight for something I have fallen in love with.

“For most, I will forever be known as broke, a failure, or a waste of talent.

“While that may be true in basketball, it’s life’s greatest failures that lead to greatest success.

“There’s more for me in this massive world and I’m really excited to be exploring it.

“And being able to find my identity outside of being a basketball player for the first time.

“‘I’m eternally grateful to those who believed in me and I apologize to those I’ve let down.

“But I’m on a different path now, one that will hopefully lead to happiness and being able to love myself again.”

Terry’s last NBA appearance came on December 31, 2021, when he was down for just six seconds as the Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs.