The American dream talks of happiness but often draws a parallel to money in this equation. The more you can get the happier you can be. So when someone walks away from what seems like a dream it can sometimes be quite shocking.

But for NBA star Larry Saunders the fame and the money didn’t give him what he wanted. It wasn’t making him happy. So he left his $44million contract to pursue his happiness. A hard decision I am sure but one I personally understand and one we can all learn from.

Larry set an example for many young men. He left the security to chase his dreams. However he didn’t leave with a light pocket. He managed a buyout that left around $21 million on the table.

READ: Marshawn Lunch Saved ALL $49 MILLION of His NFL Salary, Retired From Football & Opened a Store in Oakland

Here are some excerpts from a Business Insider article and a video of Larry talking about why exactly he left.

“I think this is seen to be a desirable, lucrative job or position. People say, ‘How could you be unhappy there? How could that be a place you don’t want to be?’ The values and the relationships of the people I love around me are my real riches. That’s my lasting wealth.”

According to a profile by Lori Nickel in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sanders didn’t start playing basketball until 10th grade. He was more into skateboarding growing up. He told the paper that he wanted to study art in college, but he couldn’t because of basketball.

He opens his Players’ Tribune video with the statement, “I’m Larry Sanders. I’m a person. I’m a father. I’m an artist. I’m a writer. I’m a painter. I’m a musician. And sometimes I play basketball.”