West reveals lifelong depression

Updated Oct 15, 2011 5:00 PM ET

Jerry West says he has battled depression since childhood, when his father would beat the future Hall of Famer, causing low self-esteem that has plagued him despite a successful career as one of the NBA’s biggest influences.

West says his West Virginia childhood was devoid of love and filled with anger as a result of his abusive father, who left him feeling tormented and worthless.

West tells HBO’s ”Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” he ”would go to bed feeling like I didn’t even want to live.”

West’s memoir, ”West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life,” is in stores Wednesday. It’s a book his wife, Karen, their four sons and his four siblings didn’t want him to write.

The HBO interview airs Tuesday.