A routine meeting took an unexpected turn
According to Griffin, every Clippers player was required to meet regularly with the organization’s sports psychologist. He entered one session expecting the discussion to remain private — a cornerstone of any therapeutic relationship.
But moments after the meeting ended, Griffin says everything changed.
After returning home and stepping away to shower, he noticed he had received a voicemail. What he heard stunned him.
“It was the psychologist and he said, ‘Hey, coach, just left Blake’s house, great talk, and we discussed some interesting things,’” Griffin recalled.
The voicemail, Griffin explained, had been left on his phone by mistake. He believes the psychologist had intended to call one of the Clippers’ coaches but accidentally dialed his number instead.
“I’m never meeting another Sports Psychologist again”
The accidental message immediately shattered Griffin’s confidence in the process.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m never meeting another sports psychologist again,’” he said.
While Griffin didn’t specify exactly when the incident occurred, he said it happened during his tenure with the Clippers, where he played alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan during the franchise’s iconic “Lob City” era.
His account offers a rare glimpse into the challenges athletes can face when balancing mental health with concerns about privacy inside professional sports organizations.
A larger conversation about confidentiality
Griffin’s story has reignited discussion surrounding confidentiality in sports psychology, particularly within professional teams where mental health professionals may work directly for the organization.
For athletes, the effectiveness of therapy often depends on the belief that deeply personal conversations will remain confidential. Any perception that those discussions could be shared with coaches or team executives—even unintentionally—can discourage players from seeking support altogether.
As professional sports continue placing greater emphasis on mental wellness, Griffin’s experience serves as a reminder that trust is just as important as access to care. Without confidence that private conversations will stay private, even the best mental health resources can become difficult for athletes to embrace.