Former Milwaukee Bucks guard Tony Snell did not play in the NBA last season. He has no plans on retiring, though. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Snell is one of a few players that are being hosted for tryouts with the Golden State Warriors:
The Warriors are holding free-agent workouts with veterans Dion Waiters, Tony Snell, Kent Bazemore, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Harry Giles and Trey Burke at facility over next two weeks, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. GS has multiple round of workouts to identify signings.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2023
Snell played for the Bucks from 2016-2019 and was a key bench player thanks to his adept three-point shooting. In three seasons with Milwaukee, Snell shot 40.3% from three and averaged 7.2 points per game.
He has also spent time in his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trailblazers, and New Orleans Pelicans.
Former Milwaukee Bucks Guard Tony Snell Recently Revealed That He Has Autism
It has been quite the year for Snell. While he did not play in the NBA during the 2022-23 season, he did see a great deal of new developments in his personal life.
In an interview with Today in June, Snell revealed that he had recently been diagnosed with autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He said that he got himself tested because his 18-month old son was diagnosed with ASD.
While many neuro-typical people may find such a diagnosis disheartening, Snell was relieved. “It just made my whole life, everything about my life, make so much sense,” Snell said. “It was like a clarity, like putting some 3D glasses on.”
People with autism commonly struggle to connect with other people. Snell, who has lived with autism his whole life without knowing it, always considered himself a loner and did not understand why:
“I’m like, if (Karter) is diagnosed, then I think I am too. … That gave me the courage to go get checked up… I was always independent growing up, I’ve always been alone. … I just couldn’t connect with people (on) the personal side of things.”
People with autism, especially children, are oftentimes viewed upon in a negative light due to ignorance and misunderstanding of their abilities and limitations. This is particularly true in the African American community, which Snell makes note of in the interview. His wife, Ashley, said:
“There’s already so many factors that are hard enough, adding that the diagnosis and resources are not there as easily, where do you even go to start?”
That is why Tony is glad that he was not diagnosed until later in life. Had he been labeled autistic as a child, he likely would not have gotten the opportunities he did to succeed in basketball:
“I think I (would’ve) probably been limited with the stuff I could probably do. … I don’t think I’d have been in the NBA if I was diagnosed with autism because back then they’d probably put a limit or cap on my abilities.”
Writing this as a parent whose child was also diagnosed with ASD at 18 months old, I can attest to the labels and limitations neuro-typical society commonly forces on children and people with autism. Had Snell been diagnosed when he was kid, in the 1990’s, he would not have been given the acceptance by peers, coaches, or schools to pursue basketball.
I am grateful for Tony Snell, and his courage and willingness to try to destigmatize ASD. My son, and everyone living with autism, deserves to be accepted. Hopefully he will impress the Golden State Warriors and further his mission to show the world that people with autism can do anything neuro-typical people can do.
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