In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones speaks with former NBA All-Star James Donaldson about the turning points that shaped his life on and off the court. James shares how a career-ending injury, emergency heart surgeries, major personal losses, and a mental health crisis led him to become a powerful advocate for suicide prevention and emotional honesty.

They discuss the pressure athletes face to perform, the stigma around asking for help, and why men in particular often struggle to speak openly about what they’re going through. James also talks about the value of journaling, surrounding yourself with a trusted inner circle, and finding the right support before things reach a crisis point.

James also shares the story behind his book, Celebrating Your Gift of Life, and explains how he uses writing, counseling, and community outreach to help others. He closes by discussing his blog, Standing Above the Crowd, and how he continues to spread awareness about mental health and suicide prevention through daily content.

About James

James Donaldson is a former NBA All-Star, entrepreneur, author, and community leader who enjoyed a 20-year professional basketball career with teams including the Seattle SuperSonics, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz, as well as international teams in Europe and the Harlem Globetrotters. A Washington State University graduate and 1988 NBA All-Star, James was inducted into both the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Beyond basketball, he founded The Donaldson Clinic and has dedicated much of his life to community service, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention through his Gift of Life Foundation. He is also the author of the books Celebrating Your Gift of Life and Standing Above the Crowd.

Content note

This episode includes discussion of mental health, suicide, and suicidal ideation.

James’ Links:

https://yourgiftoflife.org/

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/

https://a.co/d/09OiVFHG

https://sites.libsyn.com/421739/site

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.