June 18th 2023.
Former NBA player Tony Snell has recently revealed that he has autism spectrum disorder. After discovering his toddler's diagnosis, Snell felt encouraged to explore his own situation further.
Appearing on the Today show on June 16th, Snell admitted that he was not surprised by the results.
"I was not surprised because I always felt different," he shared. "It was like a clarity, like putting some 3-D glasses on. It just made my whole life, everything about my life, make so much sense."
The Los Angeles native went on to speak about autism being underdiagnosed in the Black community, despite new data revealing its prevalence amongst Black children.
"We don't have much knowledge of it. And I think some people are nervous to open up. People got a lot of stuff going on individually. It’s hard to open up to things that people might not know about," he said.
Despite being unaware of his condition, Snell went on to have a successful career in the NBA. He was the 20th pick in the 2013 draft, and went on to play for the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons. His final official season was with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to ESPN.
Nowadays, his primary concern is supporting his son through their journey with autism. He wants him to know that he's not alone and different, as Snell felt growing up.
"I want to make sure my son knows that I have his back," he said.
The former professional athlete is now using his platform to raise awareness and support around autism in the Black community.
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