Sonics Give Gill Time Off For Clinical Depression

Seattle SuperSonics guard Kendall Gill, who quarrelled with coach George Karl for much of the season over playing time, was granted an indefinite leave from the team Tuesday because of clinical depression.

A brief statement issued by Sonics president Wally Walker said the diagnosis was confirmed by two doctors. Gill did not accompany the team to Utah for Tuesday night’s game against the Jazz.

“Our biggest concern right now is Kendall Gill and his well-being,” Walker said.

The statement quoted Gill as saying, “I hope to feel better and contribute on the court as soon as possible, but right now I think finding a treatment and recovering must take precedence over basketball.”

Gill is apparently so introverted that, though they knew he was having difficulties, his teammates were not always certain how to reach out.

So they received Tuesday’s news with some surprise and regret.

“We’re just sorry we weren’t able to recognize what was going on,” Sonics co-captain Nate McMillan said. “He’s had problems the whole season with the way things have gone for him. Him not wanting to let those problems affect the team, maybe it took a toll.”

Gill is believed to have sought the diagno sis for reasons apparently not related to his situation with the Sonics. He and coach George Karl have feuded all season, a situation that erupted again last Wednesday after a game against Minnesota.

But that matter might have been only peripherally related to this development.

“I hope to feel better and contribute on the court as soon as possible,” Gill said in a statement, “but right now, finding a treatment and recovering must take precedence over basketball.”

It is believed that Gill will be back in time for the NBA playoffs, which begin April 27.

The Sonics plan to be supportive. And maybe also to find some answers.

“It’s a difficult thing to understand,” Karl said. “I think it’s something that’s actually in the game of basketball more than we talk about.”

In recent years, Brian Williams, now with Denver but then with Orlando, and Willie Burton, now with Philadelphia but then with Minnesota, had highly publicized bouts with clinical depression.

“There’s a lot of pressures and demands on athletes,” McMillan said. “People see that we’re making a lot of money and that we’re smiling, but there’s pressure. There’s pressure to perform and do well. There’s pressure from your family. There’s pressure to invest your money. There’s pressure to do a lot of things, and to do the right things.”

Gill did not accompany the team here for the beginning of a three-game road trip that includes stops in Denver and Dallas. He also has not been placed on the team’s injured list.

The fifth-year guard’s diagnosis was confirmed by two doctors. A course of treatment has not been revealed.

Medically, Gill has had a tough two-season run with the Sonics. Early last season, he collapsed to the floor during a practice because of cluster headaches, and missed three games. The headaches, which he had been suffering since he was 12 years old, have been controlled by an injected medication called sumatriptim.

With Gill out, a shooting guard position that was glutted will be lean. The Sonics also face the daunting task of replacing their fourth-leading scorer at 14.1 points per game. Gill has played in 67 games this season, starting 57, with averages of 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.63 steals.

With Vincent Askew on the injured list with plantar fasciaitis in his left foot, Karl will have to rotate three guards - Gary Payton, McMillan and Sarunas Marciulionis - to fill both backcourt spots. Karl said he will have to do some additional juggling, with forward Detlef Schrempf the likeliest candidate to move to the backcourt.

Askew is with the team on this trip and is close to being able to play.