Larry Sanders had a $44m contract – and he walked away from the NBA

The center was a dominant defensive force at his peak but mental and physical problems took their toll while he was still in his prime playing years

It was Christmas Eve 2014 when Larry Sanders, the budding star center for the Milwaukee Bucks, knew it was over. The night before, his team had lost by seven points at home to a middling Charlotte Hornets squad and the Bucks' new coach, Jason Kidd, was angry. Milwaukee, who were hovering around .500, were slated to have the holiday off to spend with family but Kidd changed those plans and decided his roster should practice - as punishment. The players had to cancel flights and alert their family of the change - something, of course, they did not want to do. During the Christmas Eve practice, Sanders went full-on. He didn't lollygag but, peeved, he also didn't back away from engaging his coach in confrontation. Afterwards, while he was the last one left in the locker room, his body started to break down.

I was cramping from my ears to my toes," Sanders tells the Guardian. Full body cramps."