Isaac Humphries, Melbourne United’s towering presence, boldly stepped last year by announcing his sexuality to the world. With this revelation, he aimed to inspire more professional athletes to embrace their true selves.

Humphries, now 26, shared his deeply personal journey on the latest episode of the “Mental As Anyone” podcast. His path to self-acceptance was anything but straightforward. At one point, he even sought the help of a hypnotherapist in a desperate attempt to change his sexual orientation.

“I definitely had the self-homophobia, the shame, and the hatred that many closeted gay people experience,” Humphries confided. “You spiral into this dark place. While it might not seem like a big deal nowadays, the lingering impact on my life was profound, pushing me into a very dark space.”

In a bid to escape his reality, Humphries turned to hypnotherapy. “I told the hypnotherapist, ‘Can you hypnotise me out of thinking this way about men and rewire my thoughts to focus on women, so I don’t have to deal with it?'” he recalled. Despite his efforts, the therapy was futile. “I wanted a wife, kids, a house, a family,” he explained, “so we tried to hypnotise me into thinking only about that and nothing else. But it obviously didn’t work.”

His public coming out made him the first openly gay player in NBL history and only the second in any top-tier global basketball league. Humphries joined Josh Cavallo of A-League Men as one of the few active athletes in Australia’s top sports leagues to come out as gay.

“I believe it’s time to set an example for the next generation,” Humphries declared last year. “I want to show that you can be a professional athlete, you can be anything you want, and still be true to yourself.”

Humphries revealed his struggles to his teammates, sharing that he had hidden his sexuality from loved ones and even himself, which led him to contemplate suicide at one point. “This truth about myself was something I wanted to deny for a long time, but now I feel comfortable telling you all: I am gay,” he announced. “I’ve been through extremely dark times, but I’ve grown so much and am now happy with who I am.”

He emphasized the responsibility of athletes to set positive examples. “There are so many people out there struggling every day, not knowing how to get up or exist. I know how that feels, and I want to represent those people.”

Humphries signed with Melbourne United last July and, with the full support of the club, stepped into his role not just as a player but as a beacon of hope for many. “We as athletes have a responsibility to set examples for people,” he said in a heartfelt video message to his teammates. “My goal is to show that you can be whatever you want, no matter who you are or what you do.”

His announcement came just before a significant game against his former club, Adelaide 36ers, marking a pivotal moment in his career. United CEO Nick Truelson and head coach Dean Vickerman praised Humphries for his bravery. “Today is an incredible step in Isaac’s journey, and we as a club are wholeheartedly supportive of him,” Truelson stated. “This is a momentous occasion not just for him personally but for male sport on a global scale.”

The sports world, including stars, fans, teams, and even the NBA itself, lauded Humphries for his courageous step.

Humphries joined Melbourne United in July this year. 
Ian Knight