"I was sexually abused as a child and suppressed those memories until I became adult. I had not allowed myself to acknowledge the abuse, the trauma associated with it and the un-dealt emotions eventually lead me to the bottom floor of a mental institution" During his 12th season as a professional Basketball player, Keyon Dooling was at the top of his game as the designated team leader of the Boston Celtics. Known for firing up his teammates with the challenge, "What's driving you?" – found himself a few months later locked away in a mental institution, confused, frightened and on the verge of losing everything. In his memoir "What's Driving You???" Dooling candidly discusses the shocking childhood incident that had a major impact on his career, as well as the hidden trauma that led to his widely-publicized breakdown. From his childhood struggles growing up in a poor and traditionally-segregated section of Fort Lauderdale, to his battle to prove the experts wrong and make the cut for the NBA draft and his challenging career on the court, Dooling chronicles the difficulties many professional basketball players face both in achieving their dreams and adjusting to a new and overwhelming lifestyle for which they are unprepared. Dooling openly discusses many revealing off-the-court anecdotes involving legendary coaches Pat Riley and Doc Rivers, his infamous fight with Ray Allen, experience as a rookie being targeted by Gary Payton and the team leadership skills learned from Shaquille O'Neal and others. His breakdown in 2012 is also described in harrowing detail; the betrayal that reignited his childhood trauma, the anxiety that caused him to announce his retirement, and the confrontation with the police that resulted in his commitment to a mental hospital. Dooling's recovery, fueled by his faith, family and the touching support of the entire Boston Celtics organization, makes for an inspiring ending to a gripping story that reveals what drove Dooling to continually overcome the odds – and emerge a winner.
