Jason Collins Is Back Jason Collins makes a come back to the NBA becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in the NBA. Sunday he played 12 minutes in the Brooklyn Nets' win over the Los Angeles Lakers.Jason Collins missed his only field goal attempted and did not score, but played nearly seven minutes in the fourth quarter and showed he can still play defense and set bruising screens that free up his teammates. Jason Collins held news conferences before and after Sunday night's game, which was something different for a player who has been a player in the NBA for 12 seasons. His return to the NBA after revealing him being openly gay has been a distraction to his teammates. Brooklyn point guard Deron Williams, said that he was proud to be a part of a historic night but ultimately didn't think it felt all that different from any other game that he has played in. Deron Williams says, "I'm happy for him, I know he's been sitting around waiting for a job, so I'm happy to see him on a team and happy that he's on our team. As some players are happy for him to be on the team, not all fans are happy forhim to be on the team saying things about him coming out. Even though he is the first NBA player to be openly gay, he's still proved that he can playthe lock down defense that he is known for. Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd played with Jason Collins in New Jersey from 2001-08, making it to the NBA Finals. The Nets signed Collins to a 10-day contract Sunday morning, Collins wore jersey number 46 in Sunday's game but will wear number 98 for the remainder of his time with the Nets. Because of the speed with which he was signed Sunday, there wasn't time to prepare that jersey number in time for tipoff. Jason Collins wears the number 98 is in honor of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who died in a notorious anti-gay hate crime in 1998. Collins has worn the jersey number with both the Celtics and Wizards in previous seasons.
Jason Collins makes a come back to the NBA becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in the NBA. Sunday he played 12 minutes in the Brooklyn Nets' win over the Los Angeles Lakers.Jason Collins missed his only field goal attempted and did not score, but played nearly seven minutes in the fourth quarter and showed he can still play defense and set bruising screens that free up his teammates. Jason Collins held news conferences before and after Sunday night's game, which was something different for a player who has been a player in the NBA for 12 seasons. His return to the NBA after revealing him being openly gay has been a distraction to his teammates. Brooklyn point guard Deron Williams, said that he was proud to be a part of a historic night but ultimately didn't think it felt all that different from any other game that he has played in. Deron Williams says, "I'm happy for him, I know he's been sitting around waiting for a job, so I'm happy to see him on a team and happy that he's on our team. As some players are happy for him to be on the team, not all fans are happy forhim to be on the team saying things about him coming out. Even though he is the first NBA player to be openly gay, he's still proved that he can playthe lock down defense that he is known for. Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd played with Jason Collins in New Jersey from 2001-08, making it to the NBA Finals. The Nets signed Collins to a 10-day contract Sunday morning, Collins wore jersey number 46 in Sunday's game but will wear number 98 for the remainder of his time with the Nets. Because of the speed with which he was signed Sunday, there wasn't time to prepare that jersey number in time for tipoff. Jason Collins wears the number 98 is in honor of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who died in a notorious anti-gay hate crime in 1998. Collins has worn the jersey number with both the Celtics and Wizards in previous seasons.
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