Tyrell Terry was drafted 31st-overall by the Mavericks two years ago. On Thursday, he announced that he’s quitting basketball, citing anxiety and what he called “the darkest times” of his life.
“While I have achieved amazing accomplishments, created unforgettable memories, and made lifelong friends,” the 22-year-old wrote, in part, on Instagram. “I’ve also experienced the darkest times of my life. To the point where instead of building me up, it began to destroy me. Where I began to despise and question the value of myself, much more than those surrounding me could ever see or know. Intrusive thoughts, waking up nauseous, and finding myself struggling to take normal breaths because of the rock that would sit on my chest that seemed to weigh more than I could carry.
Tyrell Terry looks to pass the ball during the Mavericks’ Summer League game against the 76ers on Aug. 9, 2021. NBAE via Getty Images“This is just a brief description of the anxiety this sport has caused me, and while I’m grateful for every door it has opened for me, I can’t continue this fight any longer for something I have fallen out of love with.”
Dallas drafted Terry after he spent just one season at Stanford, where he averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
The 6-foot-2 guard also shot 40.8 percent from the 3-point line, was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and was an All-Pac 12 honorable mention before declaring for the 2020 draft.
Terry played in 11 games for the Mavericks during his rookie season, averaging just 5.1 minutes per game and 1 point before taking a months-long personal leave. He returned to the team early in the 2021 preseason before taking another absence.
The Mavericks released Terry in October 2021 and he went on to play in two games for the Grizzlies before being assigned to the team’s G League affiliate.
Terry was not signed with an NBA team this season.
