Acclaimed basketballer Billy Knight was found dead early after he shared a heartbreaking YouTube video detailing his longtime struggle with depression and poor choices.

The 39-year-old was found by fire officials at 2.45am.

While the official cause of death has yet to be determined by a medical examiner, the sports trainer, dubbed The Shot Master 3 on his Facebook page, spoke in the tearful video about ending his own life.

Knight said in the video titled 'Billy Knight "I am Sorry Lord"': 'I just feel like I didn't belong here on Earth... so my time is up.'

The athletic trainer opened up about having regrets and living what he described to be a 'life of sin' that involved lying, cheating and stealing - even to the ones he loved most.

'I wasn't honest with a lot of people... even my mom, my brother and my family members. I isolated myself from my family members, I isolated myself from my friends. That's not something you should do,' he said.

'I was a taker... and that's why my life ended up where it is now. Life is not a game. You can't play around with life. It's serious.'  

Knight said, while speaking about his personal battles, that he hopes the honest video would help others seek the help that he never did.

'What I want to say... I just want to help somebody out there who's feeling like me. Maybe an ex-athlete, maybe someone who is changing jobs. I just want to at least try to help them out.

'If you're feeling like this, please get help... don't let this linger on. Mental illness is serious.' 

Knight spoke about feelings of loneliness without a significant other and suggested he had lost all of the friends he once had.

He was reduced to tears when he spoke about his beloved brother, Eric.

'Eric, man, I treated you bad, too,' Knight sobbed. 'But I still love you, man. I love you more than anything.'