John Amaechi

Psychologist, Educator, Former NBA Player

John Amaechi OBE is a world-renowned organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School. As the founder of APS Intelligence Ltd., John leads a global team that transforms leaders and cultures by combining cutting-edge behavioral science with psychological insight. His bespoke programs aren’t about quick fixes—they drive sustainable growth, ethical leadership, and organizational well-being.

From his roots in Stockport, near Manchester, to becoming the first Briton to play professional basketball in the NBA, John’s personal journey exemplifies resilience and ambition. Inspired by his mother’s words—“The most unlikely of people in the most improbable of circumstances can become extraordinary”—John has spent his career challenging expectations and helping others unlock their potential. An adviser to FTSE 100 boards, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and the recipient of the Sport Industry Integrity and Impact Award, John is recognized as one of the most influential voices in leadership and organizational culture. His bestselling book, The Promises of Giants, inspires leaders worldwide to embrace authenticity, drive ethical change, and create lasting legacies.

A deflated basketball lies on rough, textured ground.

John Amaechi: The voice in your head is lying to you. Here’s how to shut it down

“The voice in your head is not you. You are listening to that voice. It’s a heckler, trying to make you feel bad.”

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11 min

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PURPOSE: Set Goals, with John Amaechi

Ever since he came out to the public in February 2007, former NBA player John Amaechi says he has been “that big gay guy.” But there is much more to the 6’10” former center than that. He is one of the very few NBA players with a Ph.D.—after eight years in the big leagues, he returned to academics to pursue a degree in psychology. In this lesson from Big Think+, he shares with you the plan he created as a child to help him accomplish his dreams. The most important step, he says, is knowing yourself and getting clear about your end goal.

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4 min

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John Amaechi

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How Can This Body Be Gay?

The first openly gay NBA player describes how his public persona was transformed from a “pretty multidimensional person” to “that big gay guy.”

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I Wanted to Be a Jedi. Being a Psychologist is the Closest I Could Get.

Psychologist and ex-NBA player John Amaechi’s mother was a doctor who had an uncanny ability to calm anxious patients and relatives, which is why Amaechi grew up thinking she was a Jedi.

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3 min

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Boys Have Become Emotionally Illiterate

When society tells boys that being in touch with their emotions will make them into a girl or gay, they lose the ability to cope with stress and creatively handle […]

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3 min

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John Amaechi

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Why Athletes Blow Their Fortunes

Athletes are given a free pass by society—engendering a sense of entitlement and omnipotence. Once the adulation stops for retired pros, these qualities can become dangerous.

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3 min

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John Amaechi

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Black Identity and Gay Identity Aren’t at Odds

“We need to get past the point where being black and a male means that I am likely to mug you for your wallet, likely to have a minus 15 […]

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3 min

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John Amaechi

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Gays Have Different Gestation Periods

In an ideal world, celebrities would have a responsibility to come out, but the gay basketball star realizes that the process is personal and variable—like a gestation period. Some people […]

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4 min

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John Amaechi

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My Body Terrifies Homophobes

When the basketball player publicly came out in 2007, 85 percent of people were “fantastic.” The other 15 percent were “weirded out.”

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5 min

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John Amaechi

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How to Play in the NBA—Or Do Anything Extraordinary

The key to succeeding in something that is statistically improbable, like making it to the NBA, is to have a crystal clear assessment of your own strengths and failings.

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4 min

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John Amaechi

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Big Think Interview With John Amaechi

A conversation with the former basketball player and psychologist.

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25 min

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John Amaechi