When Jason Kidd subbed in Jason Collins during the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers game on Sunday night history was made, as the 35-year-old center became the first openly gay player to partake in action during an NBA game.
Less than an hour before the game Collins expressed, “Right now, I’m focused on trying to lean the plays, learning the coverages and the game plan and the assignments.” Collins continued, “So I didn’t have time to really thing about history.”
Collins, who signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn, was welcomed onto the court with a gratifying ovation when the Staples Center public announcer read his name.
The center’s signing with the Nets represents a crucial step towards the road of transformation for North American professional sports into a more acceptable environment for homosexual athletes.
While other athletes have expressed their sexuality over the past few months, Collins is the first out of the continent’s four major sports leagues to have publicly participated in a professional sport.
“The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision,” said Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King.
Collins had revealed his sexuality during an interview with Sports Illustrated at the end of last season.
