Aldridge: 'I've been depressed' since retiring from NBA

LaMarcus Aldridge admits he's been struggling with his mental health since retiring from the NBA earlier this season.

"I’ve been depressed, and I’m trying to figure out how to navigate through not competing on the floor, learning not to be depressed," Aldridge said in a recent interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania. "I still love basketball. I still feel like I have a lot to give. But even now, I’m still trying to find myself.

"When you go from doing something you love for so long and you lose it overnight, it’s a shock."

The seven-time All-Star abruptly retired from basketball on April 15 after experiencing an irregular heartbeat during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Aldridge says the decision was a challenging one to make, especially since the Nets are among the NBA's title favorites.

"That was the hardest part," Aldridge said of walking away from a chance at winning a championship. "Being in a position to get to the Finals and have an opportunity to be on that stage and be a part of history and make my mark.

"I wanted to get there (to the Finals) and see what it’s like, help those guys win and be a part of the journey. And then if we got there, hopefully we would go back two or three more times."

Aldridge finished his 15-year career with 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks averaged across 1,029 games with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Nets. The 35-year-old says he'll consider taking a coaching role in the league after this campaign ends, according to Charania.