JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WBNG) -- Former NBA player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist spent the afternoon at Binghamton University speaking with students in the Speech, Language and Pathology program about his journey living with a stutter.
Kidd-Gilchrist, an NCAA champion and the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, spent eight seasons in the NBA and earned over $70 million.
Despite his achievements on the court, he said he faced ongoing challenges with stuttering off the court.
Now retired from basketball, Kidd-Gilchrist has shifted his focus to advocacy.
He is the founder of [Change & Impact](https://changeandimpactinc.org/), an organization aimed at supporting individuals with speech disorders and promoting awareness.
“As a person who has played in the NBA, I feel that it is my responsibility,” Kidd-Gilchrist said.
Students in Binghamton University’s Speech, Language and Pathology program said they were eager to hear from Kidd-Gilchrist and learn from his lived experience.
“I’m excited to see how it impacted him in his journey to the NBA, especially since there are stigmas surrounding stuttering,” said Graduate Student Julia Connor. “I’m excited to hear how his lived experience went throughout his career.”
Kidd-Gilchrist credited speech therapists for much of his success and emphasized the impact future clinicians can have on others. “Show them that people can be successful and still talk,” he said.
Kidd-Gilchrist also gave a presentation on his speech journey and answered questions from students during the visit.
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