“You can be a great basketball player and be gay”

Isaac Humphries (24 years old) plays for Australia (Melbourne United). Born in Sydney, he tried it in the US: he trained in Indiana and signed with the prestigious Kentucky, where he competed for two years (2015-17) before appearing in the NBA draft. He went undrafted in 2017 and spent three years in the G League afterward, seeking opportunities from him. He, too, played in Serbia before returning home in 2020: Adelaide 36ers and now Melbourne United.

And four five de 2,11, Humphries he has now taken an essential step in his life by announcing that he is gay. Something that should not be news or taboo but, unfortunately, there is still a long way to go in professional sport. Attitudes like this will help a lot, without a doubt.

Humphries, visibly moved, He has communicated it to his colleagues, who have joined him after his words: “This is one of the most difficult conversations I have ever had in my life. But life is going through difficult situations, learning and making the best of them. A few years ago I went through a very dark moment. I couldn’t be who I am and I tried to kill myself. And the reason I went through that is because I was suffering a lot because of my sexuality. I was getting used to the idea that I’m gay. I hated it, it made me very angry with myself, I thought that it could not be like that in an environment like this in which I work. He ended up deciding that he didn’t want to live hiding it, that if I joined a team I had to be transparent about who I am. You have to live and you can’t hide just because you’re a sportsman. And I think that as professional athletes, we have a responsibility. There are many people in other areas who are suffering a lot, who don’t know how to get ahead. I know what that is, and I think I can represent all those people. You can be ‘Big Ice’ (his nickname) and being gay. You can be a great basketball player and still be gay. You can do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with your sexuality, who you are, or what you are supposed to be or are expected to be. I just want to be myself. I’ve found that doing this like this is what I want to do in my life and I’m going to do it the best way I can.”