Blake Griffin says one accidental voicemail during his time with the Clippers changed the way he viewed team psychologists for the rest of his NBA career.
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Appearing on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, the former All-Star recalled what he described as a major breach of trust that happened early in his career with Los Angeles.
According to Griffin, the Clippers had hired a sports psychologist and required players to meet with him. Griffin said he invited the psychologist to his Manhattan Beach home for what he believed was a confidential conversation.
But shortly after the session ended, Griffin said he noticed a missed call and voicemail from the psychologist.
Except the message wasn't intended for him.
Griffin said the voicemail was meant for a Clippers coach and included comments about the conversation they had just finished.
"I can't believe he messed up that bad," Griffin said on the podcast. "I was like, 'Well, forget that. I'm never seeing another sports psychologist ever again.'"
Griffin said the incident left him questioning whether anything discussed during team-provided counseling was truly private.
He added, however, that his feelings were directed specifically at team-employed psychologists — not therapy in general.
Since retiring from the NBA, Griffin said he has worked with a private therapist and has had a much more positive experience.
The six-time All-Star spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career with the Clippers, becoming one of the faces of the franchise during the "Lob City" era alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan.
While Griffin helped turn the Clippers into perennial contenders on the court, he acknowledged that not everything behind the scenes went as smoothly.
