When NBA fans hear the name, Tony Snell, they immediately think of the graphic made of him when he famously played 28 minutes for the Milwaukee Bucks and registered zeros across the board.
These days, the former NBA and current G League guard revealed Friday that he was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 31.
Snell discussed his diagnosis on the Today show as he noted it was his son’s autism diagnosis that compelled him to get tested as well. One of Snell’s two sons was diagnosed with autism after falling short of some of his developmental benchmarks at 18 months.
Snell said he always felt different and was something of a loner growing up. He added that he may have been held back and not given the opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming an NBA player had he been diagnosed earlier in life.
“I just couldn’t connect with people on the personal side of things,” Snell explained. “If he’s diagnosed, I think I am too. That gave me courage to go get checked up.”
“I was not surprised,” he added. “I’ve always felt different. I was like, ‘Ah, this is why I’m the way I am.’
“It just made everything about my whole life make so much sense.”
Snell was a star at the University of New Mexico, which got him drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft.
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Snell went on to spend nine seasons in the NBA with the Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans.
In 601 regular season games played, Snell averaged 6.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 three-points made, and 1.1 assists.
He signed with the G League’s Maine Celtics in January, appearing in 19 games and averaging 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers made.
