Basketball - World champion after depression: Herbert's summer of openness
In German basketball history, Gordon Herbert's place is already secured, long before the sparkling Olympic summer. As the World Champion coach, the 65-year-old Canadian will be forever linked with the unexpected World Cup triumph in Manila and the semifinal victory over the US powerhouse.
However, in the weeks before the next peak in Paris, Herbert does a lot to ensure that people in sports Germany will remember him not only for his achievements and his tenure as head coach, but also for his notably open handling of a disease that still carries a stigma in professional sports. Herbert suffered from depression for years, fought it with alcohol, and at times saw no way out for himself.
"Couldn't communicate anymore"
"I was in a phase where I didn't want to be alive anymore. I fought for six years. I didn't know how I had gotten stuck in it. The worst moment was a training camp in the Czech Republic. I didn't understand anything and couldn't communicate. After that, I was in a psychiatric hospital for two weeks," Herbert told the German Press Agency about his difficult past.
Olympics will be his last tournament as the national coach, after which the ways part. In the June-released book "The Boys Gave Me Back My Life," the dark period is dedicated to the chapter "At the Bottom." Herbert's honest and courageous statements about his acute depression made more waves than all that the World Champion trainer and his players Dennis Schroder had to tell about the golden days in Asia.
The World Champions knew nothing about Herbert's past
What he managed to get from the bottom to the basketball throne was completely unrealistic for Herbert in the fall of 2010. "No, I couldn't have imagined that. I just wanted my life back. That was the only goal I had focused on," said the trainer. Since then, he has been working with the national team in Munich to prepare for the Olympics. His professionals also knew nothing about what Herbert had been through until this summer.
"Players like Mo Wagner have already expressed themselves positively during the tournaments when I showed emotions. Now they know my story and can re-evaluate it," reported Herbert. The preparation stations Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, and London are expected to lead to a third medal at a major event in three years in France at the Olympics. The chance is absolutely given.
And the players could benefit from Herbert's stories. The 65-year-old not only wants to reveal his own story but also wants to sensitize others for dealing with the disease. He told "Stern" shortly before the publication of his book: "What I also had to learn during my depressive episodes was to say: I need help. A simple sentence, but so hard to say, out of shame and false pride." That should not be the case for others.
Even Nowitzki admires Herbert
What Herbert does professionally after the Olympics is still unclear. His dream is to coach a club for two more years and then a national team for two more years. The reverence in basketball Germany is great. Even NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki admires Herbert for his achievements - but also for his openness in dealing with mental problems.
I find it bold and significant, the way he approaches this topic and speaks so openly about it. Through this, we can all learn from his experience and benefit from his insights. For sports, it's a gain that there are personalities like him, wrote Nowitzki in the preface. Sincerity should remind us why sports hold such a high value in our society and inspire young people to become athletes.
- Despite his upcoming retirement as the national coach after the Paris Olympics, Gordon Herbert's impact on German basketball is far from over, as his struggles with depression and his subsequent recovery have captured the attention of the sporting world.
- In preparation for the Olympics, Herbert and his team have been training in various locations across Germany, including Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, and London.
- The Czech Republic holds a significant place in Herbert's recovery journey, as it was during a training camp there that he experienced a particularly difficult period, marked by feelings of isolation and inability to communicate.
- The German Press Agency featured an interview with Herbert, where he opened up about his past struggles with depression and alcohol addiction, revealing that he had spent two weeks in a psychiatric hospital.
- NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki has expressed admiration for Herbert's professional achievements and his willingness to speak openly about his mental health struggles, believing that his experiences can inspire and educate others.
- According to Herbert, one of the key lessons he learned during his depressive episodes was the importance of seeking help, a simple yet often difficult sentence to utter due to feelings of shame and pride.
- Herbert has plans to continue coaching in the future, aiming to lead a club team for two more years and then transition to coaching a national team for another stint. His bravery and candor in discussing mental health issues have shone a light on the invaluable role of athletes in promoting empathy and understanding within society.
