Inclusion and acceptance without judgement: Humphries’ vision for Pride Round

On the eve of the NBL’s fourth Pride Round, Adelaide 36ers star Isaac Humphries and former NBL player AJ Ogilvy have come together for a powerful and deeply personal conversation on pride, visibility and inclusion in basketball.

The discussion, filmed ahead of Pride Round, sees Ogilvy reflect on his playing career and the challenges of not always being able to live authentically, while Humphries speaks candidly about the impact of coming out as the NBL’s first openly gay player in 2022 and the importance of creating space for others to do the same.

Together, the pair explore how the game they love has evolved, the role visibility plays in driving acceptance, and why Pride Round continues to be a meaningful moment for players, fans and the wider basketball community.

In the video, released by the NBL on Thursday, Humphries revealed how over time, basketball had become a safe and inclusive space, though prior to coming out it had not always felt that way.

“Isn't it funny how we like basketball, right?” he said to Ogilvy. “That's our life. That's been our life.

“It became a security blanket, a crutch, but also our love and our life and our job. We put so much into our life.

"But at some point, for me anyway, basketball became the reason for the issue.

“It was this weird thing that would save my life but ruin my life as well because you're not being able to live my life, like not being authentic.

“It was such a double-edged sword, and once I was able to come out and show or be an example or just prove that you can, it was such a nice fulfilling experience to go through.”

The 211cm big man has been in excellent form this season, helping the Sixers to the top of the Hungry Jack’s NBL ladder.

He said he had always felt welcome and accepted by his teammates and in the competition, and this week’s Pride Round was an important conversation starter for those in the LGBTQIA+ community and others.

“To be playing in Australia, (my) home country in a league that has a Pride Round, celebrates everything,” Humphries explained.

“I've never had an issue it's always been very positive and things like this, conversations like this. We've got a player who plays every weekend, is openly gay, an ex-player now coming in who's openly gay, married, who's prepared to talk about this life and these situations.

“I think the visibility is really important and it starts to move forward and then Pride Round and playing in this league is really, it's like such a such a great league, and to be so welcome and accepted is fantastic.”

Humphries also said he understood that not everybody would be so accepting, but he hoped Pride Round would encourage conversation and understanding without judgement.

“In our community, in the gay community, is this undeniable acceptance of everybody and learning to stop the judgment, accept people for who they are.

“It's literally what we're about, right? Like that's our through line,” he explained.

“And I would just always encourage others to see that and understand that mindset.

“We're just people trying to accept and include literally everybody.”

Ogilvy played 218 NBL games and was a three-time All-NBL First Team member across his playing career with the Illawarra Hawks and Sydney Kings. 

He said he once thought his career in basketball and sexuality needed to be separated but that he was able to shift his feelings when marriage equality laws passed and Humphries came out publicly.

"For a long time, I believed that to be a basketballer, I had to present as straight and not show this side of my personality," Ogilvy explained.

“Growing up, it [positive portrayals of gay athletes] wasn't in basketball or media as a whole. It was more then (that) it was going to be a sad, lonely life.

“That definitely weighed on me pretty heavily.

“I can only imagine how freeing it was for you to be able to unshackle yourself…

"It’s hugely beneficial to have someone of your stature and attitude be able to step forward and proudly say who you are.”

Adelaide will play its Pride Round games against New Zealand on Friday and Sydney on Sunday, before hosting its own Pride Round at its next home game on January 31.