Tony Snell, the former NBA first-round pick for the Chicago Bulls in 2023, recently shared that he was diagnosed with autism in 2022.

The 31-year-old learned of his diagnosis after he and his wife noticed their son, Karter, wasn’t reaching developmental milestones quickly enough. The couple took their son to the doctor, and he was diagnosed with autism. Snell told NBC’s “TODAY” that he started considering himself and got evaluated.

He said, “I was always independent growing up; I’ve always been alone; I just couldn’t connect with people on the personal side of things. I’m like, you know what, if Karter is diagnosed, then I think I am too. That gave me the courage to go get checked up.”

Snell was officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He said it came as a bit of a “relief.” He said, “I was not surprised because I always felt different. It was just relief, like, ‘Oh, this why I am the way I am.'” He continued, “It was a relief. Like, this is why I am the way I am. It made my whole life, like everything about my life, made so much sense. It was like clarity, like putting some 3D glasses on.”

Snell believes if he had known his diagnosis earlier, he would not have made it in the NBA because people would have “put a limit or cap on my abilities.” He was a standout basketball player at New Mexico before he turned pro. The Bulls chose him with the 20th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

He spent three seasons in Chicago. He played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans from 2013 to 2022. Last season, he played in the G League for the Maine Celtics.

With his diagnosis, Snell hopes to break the stigma surrounding autism. He said, “I just want to change lives and inspire people. I want to make sure my son knows that I have his back. When I was a kid, I felt different, but now I could show him that I’m right here with you, and we’re going to ride this thing together. We’re going to grow together, and we’re going to accomplish a lot of things together.”