Basketball star who made history by becoming the first openly gay player in the NBL reveals the extreme way he tried to change his sexuality

Isaac Humphries publicly announced that he’s gay last year, hoping it will pave the way for more professional sportsmen to do the same.

The Melbourne United basketballer went on a long personal journey to accept his sexuality, at times going to extremes to try and change it. 

The 26-year-old tells the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast that he even tried hypnotherapy. 

‘I definitely had the self-homophobia and the shame and the hatred that a lot of closeted gay people go through,’ he said. 

‘You just go down this big spiral. Sure, in the grand scheme of things isn’t a massive deal in this day and age at all, but the residual effects that was having on my life was very much the reason why I was falling in such a dark space.’ 

In desperation, Isaac asked a hypnotherapist to alter his thoughts. 

‘I went to a hypnotherapist and opened up to them and said, “Can you try to hypnotise me out of thinking this about males and rewire maybe my thought process to think about women that way so that I just didn’t have to deal with it,”‘ he said. 

Isaac continued: ‘I was like, “I want a wife and kids and a house and family.” 

‘So we started then hypnotising me into only thinking about that and nothing else and these bad thoughts. I was just like, “Whoa, this is crazy” but I’m doing it because I just could not handle that idea of being gay at all. It obviously didn’t work.’

Humphries became the the first openly gay player in NBL history – and only the second player to do so in any top-tier competition in the world – when he made his announcement to teammates.

He is the second active athlete in one of Australia’s top sports leagues to come out as gay, joining A-League Men player Josh Cavallo.

‘I believe it is definitely time to make a change and set an example to the next generation that they can be anything they want while still being true to themselves,’ Humphries said last year. 

‘I want to demonstrate that you can be a professional athlete, you can be anything you want, and still be gay.’ 

The Melbourne United basketballer went on a long personal journey to accept his sexuality, at times going to extremes to try and change it

United’s starting centre told teammates he had been through ‘extremely dark times’ and had hidden his sexuality from loved ones and even himself – leading to him contemplating ending it all at one point.

‘It is a truth about myself that I have wanted to deny for a long time, but now I feel comfortable in telling you all. That truth, is that I am gay,’ Humphries said.

‘I have been through extremely dark times during this journey, but I have been through so much growth and I am now happy with who I am.

‘I figured out a lot about myself during this most recent off-season, and I have thought about this a lot.

The 26-year-old tells latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast that he even tried hypnotherapy. ‘I definitely had the self-homophobia and the shame and the hatred that a lot of closeted gay people go through,’ he said

‘I knew if I were to join a team and start a season, I knew I would have to reveal who I am and not hide any more.’

He signed with Melbourne United last July. 

‘We as athletes, as professional athletes, we have a responsibility to set examples for people,’ he told teammates in the video release.

‘And the truth is that there are so many people in other worlds that are struggling every single day and don’t know how to get up, don’t know how to exist.

‘I know how that feels and I want to represent those people.

‘That’s my goal behind this, (to) make sure people know that you can be whatever you want, no matter who you are or what you do.

‘I just want to be myself. I’ve discovered that this is my purpose in life and I’m just going to give it my best go.’

‘You just go down this big spiral. Sure, in the grand scheme of things isn’t a massive deal in this day and age at all, but the residual effects that was having on my life was very much the reason why I was falling in such a dark space,’ he added. Pictured with The Veronicas at the GQ Awards

Humphries is the second male basketball player to come out as gay while playing in one of the world’s top-tier basketball leagues.

NBA veteran Jason Collins was the first, in 2013.

Humphries’ announcement came ahead of a meeting with his former club Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena on Thursday night.

United CEO Nick Truelson and head coach Dean Vickerman said the organisation is proud of Humphries.

‘Today is an incredible step in Isaac’s journey, and we as a club are wholeheartedly supportive of him,’ Truelson said.

‘Not only as a member of our club, but as a person.

‘This is a momentous occasion for him personally, but also for male sport on a global scale.’

A host of sports stars, fans, teams – and even the NBA itself – praised Humphries for taking the huge step.

‘I went to a hypnotherapist and opened up to them and said, “Can you try to hypnotise me out of thinking this about males and rewire maybe my thought process to think about women that way so that I just didn’t have to deal with it,”‘ the basketballer said

‘We are proud and grateful to Isaac for sharing his story,’ read a post on the NBA’s official Twitter account.

‘We know the real impact his courage and honesty will have on many others. Isaac has our unwavering respect and support.’

The Brisbane Lions AFL team responded, ‘Inspiring and helping people by sharing your story mate!’ while the Adelaide United A-League side added, ‘Proud of you, @IsaacHumphries7’.

NBL franchises the Adelaide 36ers and Tasmania JackJumpers were among the Aussie teams to congratulate Humphries on taking the huge step forward for the sport. 

NBA coach Dave Love was also a fan of the news, so too Perth Wildcats owner Craig Hutchison, who wrote: ‘Incredibly courageous, powerful and inspiring. Thanks @IsaacHumphries7 for sharing your journey. Whole @NBL world stands with you.’