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Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow is in the midst of a breakout season. Family and friends of the fourth-year player see his success and happiness and think back two short years when things weren't trending in that direction. hrld.us/2Wf3WiJ
His oldest brother described the previous two seasons as a “storm” and his mother called it “a really dark time” in Winslow’s life.
This period in Winslow’s life began in the middle of 2016-17 when he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and cut his second NBA season short after just 18 games. And it continued in 2017-18 when his third NBA season didn’t live up to outside expectations. 
“There were times when I didn’t know my place in this league or if I had a place or if I should go to the G League,” Winslow said.
Derek Rhodes, who met and became close friends with Winslow while both attended Duke, lived with him during this two-year period. From quiet postgame dinners to sleepless nights to emotional conversations, it didn’t take long for Derek to realize something was off with Winslow.
"There were times where it would be 3, 4 in the morning and I would just stay up until we went to breakfast the next morning and made sure he got to practice,” Rhodes said.
There was plenty of empathy from Winslow’s family and friends, though. But there was no intervention. There was only an open line of communication they made sure Winslow knew was there whenever he needed to talk about things.
As the youngest of four, it was obvious to those around Winslow there was something weighing him down. Even when he remained quiet about the issues he was facing, they knew.
“He doesn’t want to tell us because he doesn’t want us to worry,” his mom said. “But we can tell. You’re the baby of the family. We know when there’s something bothering you. We know what’s going on. It was a really dark time, especially when he had that surgery on his shoulder."
For Winslow, it was his peers who inspired him to open up about his mental struggles. Mental health issues have been a topic of conversation around the NBA after stars like DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love revealed stories about their own mental health battle.
Winslow returned to Miami for his fourth NBA season as a happier and more confident person. His improvement has been one of the most encouraging developments of a season that has the Heat in eighth place in the East.
“That time was revealing for me. I got squeezed,” Winslow said of that two-year period. “You squeeze a fruit or food or anything, you’re going to see what it’s made out of. I think the good times, the bad times that filled those years, they revealed the kind of person I am."
Read @Anthony_Chiang's story about how @IAmJustise emerged from ‘a really dark time’ to find happiness on and off the court. hrld.us/2Wf3WiJ
