Former Stanford star Collins makes history
Nets center becomes first openly gay athlete to compete in major sports
“I’m focused on trying to learn the plays. I don’t have time to really think about history right now. I just have to focus onmy job.”
— Jason Collins
LOS ANGELES — It’s only a 10- day contract, but the impact of what happened Sunday will last for much longer.
Jason Collins, a 35- year- old center, signed with the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the fi rst openly gay competitor in the four major American sports.
Just hours after signing his deal with the Nets, Collins was on the court for Brooklyn’s 108- 102 win over the Lakers.
Collins, who checked into the game with 10: 28 remaining in the second quarter, received an unusually polite ovation for a visiting player from the Staples Center crowd.
Walking to the scorer’s table to check into the game for the fi rst time, “It felt like, ‘ I’ve done this a thousand times before,’” Collins said. ‘’ You go to the scorer’s table, you hear what the play’s going to be for the next offensive play, and you go out there. Once you’re out on the court, it’s basketball. It’s what I’ve been doing for almost three decades.”
He played 10 minutes, grabbed two rebounds and committed fi ve fouls. He did not score, missing the one shot he took. But after all, he was brought to the Nets to provide an interior defensive presence.
And Collins, a former Stanford star, wanted to keep the focus on basketball, not the social impact of this landmark accomplishment — becoming the fi rst openly gay athlete to compete in the NBA, NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball.
“Right now I’m focused on trying to learn the plays,” Collins said before the game. “I don’t have time to really think about history right now. I just have to focus on my job.”
Nets general manager Billy King and coach Jason Kidd also went out of their way to downplay talk that Collins’ signing was for publicity. Both said it was about making the Nets a better team.
“The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision,” King said in a statement.“Weneededtoincrease our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10- day contract.”
But the barrier- breaking move will make waves far beyond the basketball court.
“He has become an icon,” Lakers center Pau Gasol said, “and is going to have to carry some responsibility with it. And I think he’s fine with that.”
Collins hasn’t played since April, when he fi nished the 2012- 13 season with the Washington Wizards. A few weeks later he revealed his sexuality in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
But Collins hadn’t gotten an opportunity to play with an NBA team — until Sunday.
“Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract withanNBAteam,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal. I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment.”
Warriors president Rick Welts, who became the fi rst openly gay NBA executive when he revealed his sexuality in an article when he was with the Phoenix Suns in 2011, was pleased to hear of Collins’ signing.
“I’m very happy for Jason, and I’m so proud of our league and the Nets,” Welts told Newsday in a phone interview. “… I amthrilled for everyone involved.”
Collins’ signing evoked positive emotions for Welts, but he also looks forward to the day when there’s no hoopla surrounding a gay male athlete, as there is with NFL draft prospect Michael Sam. “I’ve been trying to think of how to sum up how I feel about this,” Welts told Newsday. “I think it’s a big step toward being regarded as totally unremarkable, which is exactly what it should be and what I would wish for. It’s a big deal. ... But really it’s a big step toward nobody caring, you know?”
The Nets worked out Collins last week. He proved he was still in shape despite a 10- month layoff — although, understandably, he looked tired at times during the game.
The spotlight is sure to fixate on Collins over the coming days. But the Nets are a unique and almost ideal landing spot.
He has many supporters within the organization after playing the fi rst six- plus years of his career in New Jersey.