SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal his personal struggles with a past that involved being a victim of sexual assault. 

Walker talks about his hair journey starting in seventh grade with a Mohawk, then dying the Mohawk red, then cutting it into a flattop and beyond. During his time with the Spurs, Walker’s hair has grown longer and longer, eventually creating a tall loc-like style.

“The real truth as to why I started doing this early 5th grade, it was a cloaking device for me,” Walker states in the accompanying Instagram post.

“I was sexually harassed, raped, abused,” Walker states later.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The real truth as to why i started doing this early 5th grade, it was a cloaking device for me. During the summer of my 5th grade year I was around more family. Some that names will be left alone I was around more. I was sexually harassed, raped, abused, I even got accustomed to it because being at that age you don’t know what is what. I was a gullible curious kid that didn’t know what the real world was. I had a mindset that my hair was something that I can control. My hair was what I can make and create and be mine. And it gave my confidence. As of recently I wasn’t at my best. Previous History popping up in my head and it sucked mentally “demons”..... because of this virus, I began to truly look at myself in the mirror and see who I truly was even behind closed doors. Long story short I have found peace and internal happiness through this journey god willingly. I forgave everyone even the people that don’t deserve it why? Because it’s dead weight. Time doesn’t wait on anyone so why should I waste my time on it ? Me cutting my hair was more than a cut. My hair was a mask of me hiding the insecurity’s that I felt the world wasn’t ready for. But now better then ever. Out with old. In with the new. I have shed my skin mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Life will always be hard. Gotta play with the cards your dealt with and try and make a winning hand. And if you lose. It’s never a lost. It’s a lesson 🙏🏾. I’m gonna be off this for awhile still growing through this. Just know I love each and everyone one of y’all. Peace love and happiness 💕🙏🏾

A post shared by Lonnie Walker IV (@buddah) on

He explains how his hair became a means of control and confidence. In the post, Walker also details how the effects of being on lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak has helped him face some of his “demons.”

“Me cutting my hair was more than a cut. My hair was a mask of me hiding the insecurity’s that I felt the world wasn’t ready for,” Walker says near the end of the post.

He ends the post saying he is in a better mental space but is continuing to grow through it and encourages others to try to do the same.

Walker is not the only Spurs player to display personal vulnerability about mental health. Guard DeMar DeRozan has also joined the conversation on mental health, describing his experience with depression, as well as several other NBA players throughout recent years.