Appearing on the “Friends Keep Secrets” podcast, Blake Griffin recalled his first experience with a sports psychologist during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. According to Griffin, the psychologist came to his house after practice, they had what was supposed to be a private conversation, and Griffin thought that was the end of it. Then he got out of the shower, checked his phone and found a voicemail. The problem? The voicemail was from the psychologist, but it clearly was not meant for him.
Griffin said the message was intended for his coach. In it, the psychologist allegedly began recapping the visit, saying he had just left Blake’s house and that they had a good talk about some interesting things. That was all Griffin needed to hear. His trust was gone immediately, and he says he has never used a sports psychologist since.
The story is almost too perfectly Blake Griffin. He delivers it with enough dry humor that you can laugh at the absurdity, but underneath it is a real breach of confidence. Athletes are constantly told to open up, be vulnerable and use every resource available. But that only works if the people in those rooms protect the player first. If a player thinks his private thoughts are going straight back to the coaching staff, the whole process collapses.
What makes it even more striking is Griffin’s career context. He was one of the faces of the Clippers, a No. 1 pick, Rookie of the Year, multi-time All-Star and one of the most physically explosive players the league had ever seen. His game was already under a microscope. His body, production, leadership and future were public business. The last thing he needed was a supposedly safe conversation turning into a scouting report for the bench.
