Isaac Humphries: Melbourne United basketball player comes out as gay

Isaac Humphries joined Melbourne United successful July

Australian Isaac Humphries has go the archetypal progressive antheral hoops subordinate presently playing successful a top-tier league to travel retired arsenic gay.

"It is simply a information astir myself that I person wanted to contradict for a agelong time, but present I consciousness comfortable," helium said.

"I person yet travel to a constituent wherever I cognize I tin uncover myself arsenic a cheery antheral and inactive play nonrecreational sport."

Humphries is the archetypal Australian antheral hoops subordinate and archetypal successful the National Basketball League (NBL) to beryllium openly gay.

He told his team-mates helium had tried to instrumentality his ain beingness during immoderate "extremely acheronian times", but present felt comfy successful opening up to his team-mates.

"I figured retired a batch astir myself during this astir caller off-season, and I person thought astir this a lot," helium said.

"I knew if I were to articulation a squad and commencement a season, I knew I would person to uncover who I americium and not fell immoderate more.

"I person been done highly acheronian times during this journey, but I person been done truthful overmuch growth, and I americium present blessed with who I am."

Humphries was embraced and congratulated by his team-mates aft speaking to them successful the video.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) said is was "proud and grateful" to Humphries for "sharing his story".

"We cognize the existent interaction his honesty and courageousness volition person connected galore others. Isaac has our unwavering respect and support," a connection read.

Melbourne United besides released a connection praising Humphries.

"We emotion Isaac present astatine the club. For him to consciousness comfy to beryllium his existent aforesaid present is great, and we couldn't beryllium much arrogant of him," caput manager Dean Vickerman said.

Humphries antecedently played for Adelaide 36ers and Lakeland Magic earlier joining Melbourne successful July.

He is the 2nd antheral hoops subordinate to travel retired arsenic cheery portion playing aft Jason Collins, who came out successful April 2013.

Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo became the archetypal progressive top-flight antheral nonrecreational footballer to travel retired arsenic cheery successful October 2021.

Cavallo aboriginal inspired Blackpool guardant Jake Daniels, who is the UK's lone openly cheery progressive antheral nonrecreational footballer.