Jason Collins Signs With Nets And Becomes First Openly Gay Active Player In NBA History

[DonViejo]

Source: Huffington Post

The Huffington Post | by Chris Greenberg

Posted: 02/23/2014 3:26 pm EST Updated: 02/23/2014 5:59 pm EST

Jason Collins is making a historic return to the NBA.

The 35-year-old NBA veteran is set to become the first openly gay professional athlete to compete in any of the four major North American team sports leagues -- NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA -- after signing a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The landmark signing was announced by Nets general manager Billy King on Sunday afternoon and comes 10 months after Collins came out. With the Nets in Los Angeles to face the Lakers, King indicated that Collins will be available to play on Sunday evening.

The 7-foot center brings size to a roster lacking frontcourt depth since trading away forward Reggie Evans at the NBA trade deadline earlier this month. Collins has career averages of 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He posted career-best averages of 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds during the 2004-2005 campaign with the Nets. Known as a rugged interior defender, he also led the NBA in personal fouls (322) that season.

"The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision," King said in a statement announcing Collins' signing. "We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/23/jason-collins-nets-gay-nba-player_n_4843591.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics

[alp227]

1. Collins also played for the Nets when the team was in New Jersey and made the '02 and '03 Finals.

Current Nets coach Jason Kidd played with Collins during those years. The Nets are playing the Lakers, who have gone way downhill since Kobe's season-ending injury. So Collins could see some reserve time tonight in L.A.

So what if the typical homophobic "macho man" types stop watching the NBA over this? Sports would be so much better without the asshole bigot fans.

[Skittles]

5. the macho guys will not stop watching

they'll just be educated on the fact that gay men can be good basketball players

(edited to post that yes I know, gay men can be macho men too )

[zonkers]

8. Maybe gay men can be good "ballers" but not Jason. He way pretty much a stiff, IMO.

[Skittles]

9. but he doesn't represent all gay men or all gay players

he just broke the ice

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Ten day contract? A try-out?

[Lucky Luciano]

3. Yeah - I think they are relatively common in hte NBA from what I recall. nt

[iandhr]

4. He has been in the league for many years.

Veterans in his position (do to their age often not a sharp as they once were) often get 10 day try out to see how they fit on a team.

Kenyon Martin got a 10 day contract with the Knicks last year but he was kept on for the rest of the season.

[SwankyXomb]

11. NBA players can be signed for two 10-day contracts

often to replace injured players for a short time. Anything longer than that you have to sign them for the rest of the season.

[alp227]

6. Nets beat Lakers at the Staples Center, 108-102.

Collins played 11 minutes, got 2 rebounds and a steal. Let's see what he can do in 10 days back where he started.

[joshcryer]

7. That's too awesome, thanks for that update.

Those 2 rebounds and a steal look like the point spread right there (not sure if that's how it went down mind you).

[OKNancy]

10. kick

[bluedigger]

12. And the Nets are owned by...

Mikhail Dmitrievitch Prokhorov, Russian billionaire... hmmm...

[merrily]

13. Best wishes, Mr. Collins.

[BBR Esq]

14. “It’s fantastic. It sets an incredible precedent,”

said Kobe Bryant, who is currently out of the Lakers’ lineup indefinitely with a knee injury. “I think the most important part about it, what I’ve learned on the issue is that one person coming out is showing this type of courage that gives others that same type of courage."

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24455542/kobe-bryant-on-jason-collins-it-sets-an-incredible-precedent