Basketball: depression, anxiety, burnout… Matthieu Gauzin recharges his batteries in the Landes region before returning to the courts

Matthieu Gauzin, a professional basketball player, is spending his summer in Mont-de-Marsan, to recharge his batteries with his family after a mentally challenging season.

Matthew Gauzin. A relatively unknown name in Landes basketball. However, this 24-year-old point guard, a regular at major French clubs, came to train and recharge his batteries in Mont-de-Marsan with his family this summer, after a very difficult year mentally. The Bourges (Cher) native played for two clubs during the 2024-2025 season, which he began with SLUC Nancy (Betclic Elite), before leaving for Turkey in January and wearing the jersey of Tofaş Bursa basket (Beko Basketbol Ligi, Turkish first division).

"It means a lot to me to come back and see my family. This is the first year I've done it. Otherwise, I spend my time training every summer. I recharge my batteries. Generally, I train like crazy, harder than during the season, in Paris. I think it was better that I came home," he explains calmly. A return to his loved ones is necessary, according to him, to recover mentally from "several years of suffering," "anxiety attacks, depression, and stress," as he mentioned on his social networks in early 2025.

The player has been carrying this deep malaise for several years, following a difficult event, which he does not want to dwell on, and which has greatly affected him throughout his career. "I wanted to quit," he says. "But in the end, you think back to the past, to the years at the training center. When there were only friends and basketball. It helps you hold on."

Trained at Le Mans Sarthe basketball, he began his professional career during the 2019-2020 season and quickly established himself as a Betclic Elite referenced player. He joined SLUC Nancy after having achieved his best statistical season with the Metropolitans 92, during the 2023-2024 season (8 points, 3 assists in 20 minutes).

"I had worked so hard all summer that I was actually burned out. In the end, I had a disastrous start to the season. By October, I couldn't play basketball anymore, and that continued until December. The best solution was to start something new."

So he arrived in Turkey in January 2025, no longer having any confidence in his game. "When I arrived, it was a bit strange. It's a big club (Tofaş Bursa was also playing in the Eurocup, editor's note), I told myself that I didn't really belong there. By performing better, I found a bit of the pleasure of playing again. But it's still complicated, you just have to accept the situation and not stay in denial." The season ended, Matthieu Gauzin's contract was not renewed by his club. He is now a free agent, waiting for an opportunity.

Determined to bounce back when a new challenge presents itself to him, Matthieu Gauzin is putting all the odds in his favor. This starts with his diet. He follows a strict regimen. "I had gained a little weight in Turkey. Now I'm back at my ideal weight, 79.3 kilos. Before, diet was the least of my worries. Since I came back, I've been eating 2,100 calories a day. The goal is to lose as much fat as possible."

At the same time, he trains a lot. Six days a week, with a large portion focused on physical work. "Before, weight training was more of a constraint. But my coach made me enjoy it. As for basketball, I've been injured for a month (as of August 23, editor's note), so for the moment, it's also a lot of rehabilitation. Core strengthening and a lot of explosive work," he explains.

“If the mind is well, the body follows”

But Matthieu Gauzin insists he's in no rush and still needs time to feel good mentally. "It's my desire to be back. If I miss preseason with my future club, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that I find myself mentally. That I feel ready. If the mind is good, the body follows." He adds that he has been seeing a psychologist for about a year and is making progress psychologically. "I still need it," he says.

The point guard (European vice-champion with the French U17 team in 2018) will spend the end of his preparation in Paris, accompanied by his coach Matthieu Khaled. A busy schedule awaits him, with obviously a lot of basketball. "It's been a month since I touched a ball with this little injury (to the hamstring, editor's note). I miss it, but it's also good to take a break. It's the first time I've done it."

One thing is certain: Matthieu Gauzin is doing everything he can to rediscover the joy of playing and performing. Looking for a season of renewal?