“That’s not the guy we drafted,” Justise Winslow’s brother REVEALS heartbreaking struggles of the former Miami star in his NBA career

Justise Winslow is having a good season so far for the Portland Trail Blazers. He is been one of the finest trades the Blazers have recently made. He can fill multiple spots and roles in the team when they need him. Miami Heat drafted Winslow in the 2015 NBA Draft, and he emerged as one of the most promising young stars in the league. However, after an excellent start, the Texas-born suffered an injury, which took him into dark places. 

Recently, Winslow and his brother Josh revealed the struggles, personal and professional that he had to go through. The former NCAA champion had a decent rookie season after being drafted by the Heat. He made it to the All-NBA Rookie Second Team and was in the starting center lineup in his team’s last playoff game. However, Winslow tore his labrum in his sophomore season. The NBA star said that even before the injury had happened, he already wasn’t feeling good about it. 

Josh revealed that his brother was unable to bear the setback he had suffered in his career and took to the wrong path. In the story about Justise’s struggles, his brother talked about the struggles of mental health and alcoholism that the former Miami star had to go through. His brother also mentioned that it was Erik Spoelstra who called him first regarding Justise. “Spo was the first person who reached out to me,” Josh said. “He was like, ‘I FaceTimed Justise today and it looked like he hadn’t shaved for weeks, or left his room.’ And everybody on the team was like, ‘That’s not the guy we drafted.’ It got dark for him, for sure,” he added.

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Justise Winslow says that he was selfish and developed destructive tendencies in Miami

Looking back at his past and his struggles during injury, Winslow said that it was selfish for him to do anything of that magnitude. He said to The Athletic’s Jason Quick, that he was struggling to keep calm during the turmoil and was trying his best to fill up. “I was very selfish; I thought the world was centered around me, especially when basketball was taken away,” Winslow said. “I didn’t know how to fill myself up. That’s when a lot of the negativity and darkness started to creep in,” he added. He had developed destructive tendencies and passed through a lot of women after a series of nightclub visits. 

However, after being passed through teams like Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angles Clippers, Justise seems to have found a place in Portland. Since arriving in Portland he has been on a redemption tour this season. Winslow is again injured with a severe ankle injury and has been out for about 3 weeks now. He is about to return soon since his return window was two weeks. Also, now he is mentally stronger to deal with injuries.

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