Former Duke and NBA basketball star Kyle Singler has prompted concern from fans after posting a series of troubling videos on social media from Oklahoma.
In four videos posted on Tuesday, a disheveled-looking Singler paced in circles while calling out his former college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, and claiming his power had been cut off.
"I need this message to go out to as many people as possible. Man, Coach K has set me up. Set me up, man," Singler said in the first video. He claimed that he had no power and no house, adding that he had reached out to Krzyzewski, who had fully dismissed his messages.
"You guys are, um, cutting my power off, breaking into my house, stealing money. Ruining my life," Singler said. "Reached out to Coach K and all he did is sit me on the bench. Thanks, man. Is that what we're doing at school, sitting people down, teaching them up? Cool beans, man... Coach, where you at? Help a brother out. Thought we were on the same team, man."
Social Media Videos and Claims of Violence
In a second video, which appeared to be posted twice, the Oregon native stated that he is currently living in Oklahoma. He expressed feeling stuck inside his house and alleged that people are after his money and trying to kill him.
"Where are we as a society, man," Singler said. "I go out, I'm out in Oklahoma, I go out walking on the street, I get pulled, I get arrested, I get fucking checked, I get kicked out of restaurants. I can't even live anymore. Can't even say, uh, 'hey, how's it going' without confrontation."
He continued: "I've reached out to Coach. Again, everybody knows what's going on. We're living in a whole 'nother world. Coach, I need your help, man. I'm stuck at my, uh, house and I can't leave. I feel imprisoned. Where we at? Leaving people stranded."
Singler further claimed that back home his friends and family were "devastated and gone, died," and said his life was on the line. "I got people breaking into my house, stealing, jacking money, breaking into my accounts," he said. "And you know what? Duke's all about it. I got Duke again, begging for my money. Everybody's after my money, trying to kill me. What's going on? What's the deal?"
He added: "Well, seems like people got a lot of anger and a lot of violence and a lot of retribution on their mind. So got messages, and again, Coach, you got again former player being mistreated and abused and you ain't doing nothing, man. Help out."
The third and final video touched on similar themes, with the former Oklahoma City Thunder player claiming he was under surveillance, experiencing privacy and technology issues, and having his accounts hijacked and frozen. He described people in Oklahoma as being "way too paranoid for honesty and the truth."
"Coach, I need your help. I'm locked in my house and I have no freedom anymore. Everybody's again attacking me for green [money], so have at it, y'all," Singler said. "What I've learned is, again, a lot of people that, again, take violence and want to hurt people don't tend to be, again, seen in a good light, so. Coach, man, I've reached out to you many times and try to share with you where I'm at, and you just have been deflective. Leaving people in the dust. I don't respect it."
Fan Reactions and Previous Social Media Posts
Followers and fans left numerous comments under the posts urging him to seek professional help and asking the Duke basketball program to intervene. Longtime basketball announcer Dick Vitale also joined those pleading with Singler to get help following the latest posts.
"Get clean man get back to hoops somehow get around the game and get better," one Instagram user wrote. Another commenter added: "Man brother... I pray you get the help you need."
A third user commented: "Can a former teammate or someone in the Duke family step up? This is horrific @dukembb." Another wrote: "Kyle get help bro. There's nothing wrong with not being okay. But you are in the small percentage of people who made it to the highest level. You can get through this."
Tuesday's videos follow a similar incident in January when Singler posted a now-deleted Instagram video admitting to being homeless and alleging that his child was being abused.
"I don't feel safe," the Medford, Oregon native said in the self-shot video. "I've got people in my life taking my money - this is a message to everybody in my life who has been messing with me. I have my child, my child is being sexually, physically, emotionally, spiritually abused. Shame on everybody that knows me that's not helping, not intervening. F*** y'all. Duke, Medford, everybody."
Singler added: "I have people in my life f***ing me. And nobody's there. I'm on my own, homeless. People that are just feeding off me. You all have created me by your treatment I am sick of it. Done. Standing tall. If you don't like it, f***ing be helpful. My child has been a weapon against me."
He concluded the January post by stating: "I'm not apologetic for living my life you of love, being with people I want to be around. But it's not reciprocal. I've been taken advantage of every f***ing step of the way. And now I'm talking. Y'all talk s***, and now I'm talking s***. I hope you like it."
Legal History and Basketball Career Background
The January video was posted months after Singler was arrested in Whitehead, Oklahoma, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. Local television station News On 6 reported that the woman told officers Singler was her live-in boyfriend and was attempting to get their child.
Responding officers noted that Singler appeared to be under the influence of drugs. According to police, the woman stated Singler wanted to have sex with her, and when she refused, he allegedly threatened to rape her before pushing her to the ground and assaulting her.
Television station KFOR reported that the woman suffered bruising on her arms and had finger outlines on her face. Singler was subsequently taken to the Haskell County Jail.
Before his recent struggles, Singler was a widely heralded basketball recruit out of Oregon who signed a national letter of intent in 2006 to play for head coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
In 2010, Singler led the Duke Blue Devils to a NCAA National Championship victory, defeating Butler University 61-59 in the final game. Singler was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four for his performances.
After completing his final college season in 2011, Singler was selected 33rd overall in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He began his professional career playing in Spain for Lucentum Alicante and Real Madrid before joining Detroit in 2012.
Singler played three seasons with the Pistons before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team deal involving eight players and three draft picks. He re-signed with the Thunder after 2015 and was waived in 2018. He then returned to play in Spain before retiring due to personal reasons in 2019, finishing his NBA career with averages of 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game across 356 games.
