Brad Daugherty – UNC and NBA Great, Men’s Health Champion
We’ve got to be advocates for ourselves and each other—get your checkups, listen to your doctor, and take your health seriously."
-Brad Daugherty
Video Transcript
Michael Washington:
We’re joined by the one and only Brad Daugherty. Brad, thank you for taking the time to talk with us about men’s health.
Brad Daugherty:
Thanks for having me. You know, this really started for me last summer. I was talking with my buddy Phil Ford, and we were just catching up about friends and former teammates—guys we played with or against, both in college and in the league.
The conversation turned to men’s health, and it really hit me how many of my friends are now dealing with serious health issues—things that, in many cases, could have been avoided. As men, especially as we get older, that stubbornness kicks in. Like Phil said, “unless it hurts, we don’t think about it.”
That’s the mentality of a lot of men—we see ourselves as providers. We’re so focused on making sure everyone else is okay that we don’t take the time to take care of ourselves.
Michael Washington:
Was that realization a turning point for you?
Brad Daugherty:
Absolutely. I’ve had several close friends face major health problems, and when I looked at my own family history, it became even more real.
There’s heart disease in my family. I lost my mom to a heart attack at 68. My dad passed from a heart attack at 60. My older brother has had one, and so did my grandmother.
When I looked at that pattern, I knew I had to make a change. I talked with my doctor, and he said something that really stuck with me: “This doesn’t have to be your story.”
Sure, there are things I’ve inherited that I can’t control—but there are a lot of things I can control. He told me that by focusing on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and routine medical care, I could cut my risks in half. That gave me hope—and responsibility.
Michael Washington:
What does that look like for you now?
Brad Daugherty:
It starts with awareness and accountability. I work closely with my doctor to monitor things like blood pressure, cholesterol, and diet. I’m trying to make smarter choices—just being more intentional.
But it’s hard. I still have a lot of buddies who don’t go to the doctor regularly. They’ll say, “I feel fine,” and then something happens—maybe a prostate issue or heart problem that could’ve been caught early. It’s frustrating because it’s preventable.
So I tell every man I talk to: get your annual checkup. Listen to your doctor. Take your health seriously. The knowledge you gain—just understanding your body—can help you live better and longer.
We’re all going to age, and we’re all going to face challenges, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to stay ahead of them. It’s super important that we, as men, become advocates for ourselves and for each other. Take care of your health. Find a good doctor. Stay consistent. That’s how we change the story.