On Sunday, the Brooklyn Nets signed center Jason Collins to a 10-day contract. When he stepped on the court to face the Lakers in his hometown, he became the first openly gay man to play in an NBA game.
It’s been a whirlwind since.
He’s received messages of encouragement from the likes Billie Jean King. His number 98 jersey — honoring Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming student slain in a hate crim — has been the highest selling jersey back-to-back days on NBA.com’s store.
“Obviously I didn’t have this much media attention when I got traded from the Celtics to the Wizards. But it is what it is.” he told reporters during the Nets shootaround on Wednesday.
As Collins spoke to a swarm of reporters Wednesday morning, Brooklyn’s starting point guard Deron Williams was snapping a picture of the scene.
Last spring in a piece in Sports Illustrated cover story, Collins came out as gay.
“It’s a huge weight off my shoulders and anytime you eliminate stress in your life it makes your life so much better,” he said. “Now people can really see me for who I am and accept and support me.”
In his 13th season, he didn’t get a training camp invite, but worked hard to stay in shape waiting for the call.
“I worked extremely hard,” he said. “You know, running five miles by myself or other times I had my trainer with me. Hard work pays off.”
The call eventually came from the Nets, whom played with for six-and-a-half seasons, including with current Nets coach Jason Kidd.
“No different than when he was my teammate the first time around,” Kidd said on Collins’ presence with the team. “He understands how to play the game the right way and we saw that in L.A.”
“I’m happy for him,” Portland’s Wesley Matthews said. “He gets to play in the NBA, that’s something not a lot of people get to do.”
Terry Stotts has been around the NBA for 20-plus years and while he doesn’t know Collins, he knows his reputation as a teammate and player.
“He’s been in the league a long time because he’s a good teammate, he’s been a good player on the court,” said Stotts. “Franchises have valued him wherever he’s been and I think it speaks much more as to who Jason has been throughout his life.”
Collins says that he can’t ask for a better situation.
“I’m just looking out on the court right now and I’ve been teammates with so many guys here and if I haven’t, my brother has,” he said.
For Collins, the focus is not history. Throughout his basketball career, it has never been about statistics.
“Just winning basketball games,” he said when asked what his goals are. “That’s what it’s always been about for me. If I’m boxing out, setting screens, using my fouls wisely, being physical out there, making plays to help the team win. That’s what’s most important for me.”
