Finding Stillness in the Chaos

Summer League in Las Vegas moves fast — games, workouts, nonstop energy. But in the middle of it all, Mind Health created space for something different: a pause.

Last July, the league’s mental wellness initiative hosted Yoga in the Valley, a chance for players, families, and NBA community members to step away from the noise and reconnect with themselves. Led by Olu of EarthGang, the session blended movement, mindfulness, and music — an unexpected but natural fusion.

“I walked in and there was basically a big yoga class going on, with a bunch of people from around the league, being led by a rapper from Atlanta — a very famous rapper,” recalled NBA veteran Malcolm Brogdon.

At its core, the event was about more than stretching — it was about slowing down. “A pause to me means being still,” said Mind Health Director Dr. Kensa Gunter. “It means taking a moment to reflect internally on what you need, how you feel, what’s going on. Really take a moment out of the fast-paced nature of life and be intentional about slowing down and stopping, because we don’t do that a lot.”

In a game built on movement, Yoga in the Valley was a reminder: sometimes, the most powerful move is to simply stop.