NBA Veteran Basketballer Tony Snell Reveals Autism Diagnosis
“It just made my whole life, everything about my life makes so much sense.”
Veteran NBA basketballer, Tony Snell, has revealed a diagnosis of autism at the age of 31, “It was like a clarity. And it just made my whole life, everything about my life makes so much sense.”
Snell, who played in the NBA between 2013 and 2022 for almost a decade, recently shared his story with Today Show reporter Craig Melvin. During the interview, Snell revealed that autism had affected his family in more ways than he initially realized.
Snell, along with his wife Ashley, noticed that their young son, Carter, was missing important development milestones. When he was 18 months old, he wasn’t talking and also showed signs of stimming. Stimming is a term used to describe ‘self-stimulatory behaviors,’ which include repetitive movements and sounds.
Ashely and Snell said that Carter was active and always on the go, often running around with six or seven different toys, including a basketball.
Their family doctor recommended that Carter get tested for autism, which ultimately revealed a positive diagnosis. Seeing the similarities between his son and himself, Snell decided to get tested simultaneously.
“I was always independent growing up, always been alone. I just couldn’t connect with people on the personal side of things,” Snell said.
Snell said that his diagnosis answered many of the questions he’d been struggling with his entire life.
“I was not surprised because I always felt different,” Snell said. “I was just relieved, like, ‘Ah, this, why I am the way I am.’ And it just made my whole life, everything about my life makes so much sense. It was like a clarity.”
Snell was born in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, and said that basketball had always been a way for him to escape, both from the feelings of being an outsider and the streets of South Central L.A.
Defying the odds, Snell ultimately managed to make it to the pinnacle of his sport, the NBA. He fought the odds to become a professional athlete. Only 0.01% of all high school basketball players will make it to the NBA.
Snell hopes that by coming forward publicly with his diagnosis, he’ll inspire other children and adults not only to get tested but also that you can achieve their dreams, even if they feel different.
“I want to change lives and inspire people. I want to make sure my son knows that I have his back. When I was a kid, I felt different. But now, I can show him that, ‘I’m right here with you. We’re gonna ride this thing together. We’re gonna grow together, and you’re gonna accomplish a lot of things,’” Snell said.
The Tony Snell Foundation will be helping families in inner cities and children of color get better access to autism services, which are often unattainable and unaffordable to those who need them the most.
NBA Veteran Basketballer Tony Snell Reveals Autism Diagnosis – Conclusion
Autism affects roughly 1 in 36 children, according to the CDC. While Snell’s diagnosis of autism isn’t any more important than anyone else’s diagnosis, public diagnosis can only help to raise awareness about autism and ultimately lead to more money being invested into what causes autism and how to cure or prevent it.
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