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Jason Collins

Collins with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014
Personal information
Born	(1978-12-02) December 2, 1978 (age 46) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school	Harvard-Westlake (Los Angeles, California)
College	Stanford (1997–2001)
NBA draft	2001: 1st round, 18th overall pick
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career	2001–2014
Position	Center
Number	35, 34, 98, 46
Career history
2001–2008	New Jersey Nets
2008	Memphis Grizzlies
2008–2009	Minnesota Timberwolves
2009–2012	Atlanta Hawks
2012–2013	Boston Celtics
2013	Washington Wizards
2014	Brooklyn Nets
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-American – NABC (2001) Pete Newell Big Man Award (2001) First-team All-Pac-10 (2001) Fourth-team Parade All-American (1997)
Career NBA statistics
Points	2,621 (3.6 ppg)
Rebounds	2,706 (3.7 rpg)
Assists	626 (0.9 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Jason Paul Collins (born December 2, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player who was a center for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal, where he was an All-American in 2000–01. Collins was selected by the Houston Rockets as the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft. He went on to play for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.

After the 2012–13 NBA season concluded, Collins publicly came out as gay. He became a free agent and did not play again until February 2014, when he signed with the Nets and became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of four major North American pro sports leagues. In April 2014, Collins was featured on the cover of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World".

Early life

Collins was born in Los Angeles, California, in the Northridge neighborhood. He was born eight minutes ahead of his twin brother Jarron, who also became an NBA player.

Both brothers graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. He and Jarron won two California Interscholastic Federation state titles during their four-year careers with a combined record of 123–10. Collins broke the California career rebounding record with 1,500. Collins was backed up by Jason Segel, who USA Today opined might have ended up being the most famous player from the team.

College career

Collins played at Stanford University with brother Jarron for the Cardinal in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10). In 2001, Collins was named to All-Pac-10 first team, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) voted him to their third-team All-American team.

He finished his college career ranked first in Stanford history for field goal percentage (.608) and third in blocked shots (89).

Professional career

New Jersey Nets (2001–2008)

As a rookie along with Richard Jefferson, Collins played a significant role in the New Jersey Nets' first-ever NBA Finals berth in 2002 against the Los Angeles Lakers. During this Finals appearance, Collins acknowledged that he is not really 7 feet tall as he has been listed since his junior year of college. He was measured 6 ft 10¼ in at the 2001 NBA combine.

In the 2002–03 NBA season Collins took over the starting center role for the Nets and helped the franchise back to the NBA Finals. During that season, Collins averaged 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Prior to the 2004–05 season, he signed a $25 million contract extension with New Jersey for five more years.

Memphis Grizzlies (2008)

On February 4, 2008, Collins was traded along with cash considerations to the Memphis Grizzlies for Stromile Swift.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2009)

On June 26, 2008, Collins was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in an eight-player deal involving Kevin Love and O. J. Mayo.

Atlanta Hawks (2009–2012)

Collins signed with the Atlanta Hawks on September 2, 2009. Collins re-signed with the Hawks in the 2010 offseason. In 2010–11, the fifth-seeded Hawks defeated the fourth-seeded Orlando Magic as Collins slowed the Magic's dominant center, Dwight Howard. After Game 4 in the series, then-Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy called Collins' play "the best defense on all year".

Boston Celtics (2012–2013)

On July 31, 2012, Collins signed a contract with the Boston Celtics.

Washington Wizards (2013)

On February 21, 2013, Collins and Leandro Barbosa were traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Crawford.

On April 29, 2013, after the season had already concluded, Collins publicly came out as gay, becoming the first active male athlete from one of the four major North American professional team sports to publicly do so. Collins became a free agent in July 2013, and stated that he intended to pursue another contract. He was not invited by any team to training camp, but he worked out at his home waiting for an opportunity.

Return to the Nets (2014)

On February 23, 2014, Collins signed a 10-day contract to rejoin the Nets, who had since moved to Brooklyn. Nets coach Jason Kidd, who became good friends with Collins while teammates in New Jersey from 2001 to 2008, was an advocate of signing Collins. Collins played 11 minutes that night against the Lakers at the Staples Center, becoming the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues. Collins wore jersey number 46 (the only number the team had available at the time) in his first game of the season, but planned to wear No. 98—the same number he wore with Boston and Washington—going forward. Collins chose to wear No. 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, whose 1998 murder was widely reported as a hate crime and ultimately led to the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Collins' jersey rose to the top spot for sales in the NBA's online shop, and the NBA announced that proceeds from the sales, as well as proceeds from auctions of Collins' autographed game-worn jerseys, would benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

On March 5, 2014, Collins signed a second 10-day contract with the Nets. On March 15, 2014, Collins signed with the Nets for the rest of the season.

On November 19, 2014, Collins announced his retirement from professional basketball after 13 seasons in the NBA.

Player profile

Collins had low career averages in the NBA of 3.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, and 41 percent shooting from the field, and never averaged more than seven points or seven rebounds in a season. However, the basketball analytics community valued his defense through measurements not typically found in a boxscore. Collins was a physical player defending the post, boxed out well, and excelled at setting screens. He was precise in executing coaches' defensive strategies, and he read the opponents' movements well and communicated on defense. He also had a reputation for being a team leader, and earned consistent praise for his professionalism and intelligence on the court.

Personal life

Collins was in an eight-year relationship with former WNBA center Carolyn Moos, and the two were engaged to be married, but Collins called off the wedding in 2009.

Coming out

In the cover story of the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated, a first person story by Collins with journalist Franz Lidz, and posted on the magazine's website on April 29, 2013, he came out as gay, becoming the first active male athlete from one of the four major North American professional team sports to publicly do so. He wrote that he wished to maintain his privacy in regard to specific details of his personal life, and that he is not in a relationship. Collins also said a "notorious antigay hate crime", the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998, led him to choose "98" for his jersey number, in Shepard's honor. Collins called the number "a statement to myself, my family and my friends."

Following his announcement, Collins has received high praise and support for deciding to publicly reveal that he is gay. Fellow NBA star Kobe Bryant praised his decision, as did others from around the league, including NBA commissioner David Stern. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton, and Collins' corporate sponsor Nike were also among those offering their praise and support for Collins. However, ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard stated that he did not believe that Collins can "live an openly homosexual lifestyle" and be a Christian, but thought that Collins "displayed bravery with his announcement". Collins, a Christian, responded by saying "This is all about tolerance and acceptance and America is the best country in the world because we're all entitled to our opinions and beliefs but we don't have to agree. And obviously I don't agree with his statement." The Guardian called it significant for LGBTQ acceptance "as professional sports had long been seen as the final frontier." Given the interest in major league team sports in the United States, The Christian Science Monitor wrote that Collins' announcement was "likely to put wind in the sails of this trend" of acceptance of gay rights in U.S. public opinion. Former tennis player Martina Navratilova, who came out as a lesbian in 1981, called Collins a "game-changer" for team sports, which she referred to as one of the last areas where homophobia remained.

Collins' former fiancée, Carolyn Moos, expressed conflicted feelings and said she only learned Collins was gay shortly before the Sports Illustrated cover story.

On the day it was released, the Sports Illustrated story drew a record 3.7 million visitors to the magazine's website, SI.com.

The New York Times called his 2014 signing with Brooklyn "perhaps basketball’s most celebrated and scrutinized 10-day contract." His No. 98 jersey became the top seller on the NBA's online store.

Since June 2014, Collins has been in a relationship with film producer Brunson Green.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards

On August 2, 2013, Collins was among the first class of inductees into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

See also

• Michael Sam
• Gareth Thomas
• Homosexuality in sports
  • Homosexuality in sports in the United States
• List of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sportspeople

References

1. "Jason Collins". National Museum of African American History and Culture. May 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
2. "Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay NBA player". BBC News. February 24, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
3. Keh, Andrew (February 23, 2014). "Jason Collins, First Openly Gay N.B.A. Player, Signs With Nets and Appears in Game". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
4. "Jason Collins featured on cover of Time's Most Influential People - FOX Sports". April 25, 2014. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014.
5. ^ Moore, David Leon (March 20, 2001). "Collins twins have Stanford standing tall". USA Today. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
6. "Suns get rights to Jarron Collins". InsideHoops.com. October 26, 2009. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
7. "Fastbreak to Silver Screen". Daily News of Los Angeles. October 30, 1996.
8. "Jason Collins". GoStanford.com. Stanford University. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
9. "Boys Basketball: Player of the Year". Los Angeles Daily News. March 31, 1997. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2013.(subscription required)
10. "Jason Collins played high school basketball with Jason Segel". sports.yahoo.com. Dan Devine. April 30, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
11. "Jason Collins". National Museum of African American History and Culture. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
12. "Pac-12 Conference 2011–12 Men's Basketball Media Guide". Pac-12 Conference. 2011. p. 120. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
13. "All-America – Division I (2000's)". nabc.org. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013.
14. "Stanford's Jason Collins Declares For The NBA Draft". pac-12.com. May 7, 2001. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
15. Bloomberg News (June 15, 2003). "Tall Tales in N.B.A. Don't Fool Players". The New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
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17. Wallach, Reed (February 23, 2014). "A look at Jason Collins' play in New Jersey". NetsDaily. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
18. "Jason Collins: First Active Gay NBA Player Retires". Retrieved May 28, 2015.
19. "Grizzlies acquire center Jason Collins from Nets". NBA.com. February 4, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
20. "Bulls go for Rose over Beasley in NBA draft; Mayo, Love swap places". ESPN. June 26, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
21. Smith, Sekou (September 3, 2009). "7-footer Collins signs one-year deal". Sports. Atlanta Constitution. p. C3. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Atlanta Hawks Re-Sign Jason Collins". NBA.com. July 29, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
23. ^ Haberstroh, Tom (April 30, 2013). "Jason Collins a no-stats All-Star". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2013.(subscription required)
24. "Celtics Sign Jason Collins". NBA.com. July 31, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
25. "C's announce four signings". ESPN.com. July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
26. "Wizards Acquire Collins and Barbosa From Boston". NBA.com. February 21, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
27. Manfred, Tony. "The Washington Wizards Traded Away Their Third-Leading Scorer For Almost Nothing". Business Insider. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
28. ^ "Reaction to Jason Collins' announcement". ESPN.com. April 29, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
29. ^ Golliver, Ben (February 24, 2014). "Nets' Jason Collins becomes first openly gay player in NBA". SI.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014.
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42. Felt, Hunter (November 20, 2014). "Jason Collins, first openly gay player, retires: our indifference is his triumph". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
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44. "Cosmo Exclusive: Jason Collins Is My Ex-Fiancé—and I Had No Idea He Was Gay". Cosmopolitan. July 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
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50. ^ Grier, Peter (April 29, 2013). "NBA's Jason Collins comes out: What does that mean for gay rights?". yahoo.com. The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
51. Collins, Jason; Franz, Lidz (April 29, 2013). "Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now". SI.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
52. Mitchell, Houston (April 30, 2013). "Chris Broussard clarifies his ESPN remarks about Jason Collins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
53. Bruni, Frank (April 30, 2013). "Q&A with Jason Collins". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
54. Felt, Hunter (April 30, 2013). "Why Jason Collins matters". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013.
55. Navratilova, Martina (April 29, 2013). "Martina Navratilova: Jason Collins a 'game-changer'". SI.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013.
56. Wertheim, Jon (April 30, 2013). "A reluctant trailblazer, Navratilova laid groundwork for Collins". SI.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
57. "Jason Collins' ex-fiancée tells her side of the story". For The Win. July 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
58. Keh, Andrew (March 2, 2014). "Collins's Brooklyn Debut Recalls Robinson's in 1947". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014.
59. Galanes, Philip (June 27, 2014). "Speak Your Own Truth, on Your Own Terms". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
60. Ginsberg, Merle; Baum, Gary (January 23, 2014). "Jason Collins Is Dating 'The Help' Producer Brunson Green". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
61. "Jason Collins on Instagram: "7 years later... 😘🥰❤️ #HappyAnniversaryBoo #Love"".
62. "National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame's Inaugural Class Announced | Out Magazine". Out.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
63. "Gay, lesbian sports hall of fame honors athletes - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2023.

External links

• Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
• Stanford Cardinal bio
• Jason Collins on Twitter

• 1978 births
• Living people
• African-American Christians
• All-American college men's basketball players
• Basketball players from Los Angeles
• Boston Celtics players
• Brooklyn Nets players
• Centers (basketball)
• Harvard-Westlake School alumni
• Houston Rockets draft picks
• Identical twins
• African-American LGBTQ people
• LGBTQ basketball players
• Gay Christians
• LGBTQ people from California
• American gay sportsmen
• McDonald's High School All-Americans
• Memphis Grizzlies players
• New Jersey Nets players
• Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
• People from Northridge, Los Angeles
• Stanford Cardinal men's basketball players
• American twins
• American men's basketball players
• 21st-century African-American sportsmen
• 20th-century African-American sportsmen
• Inductees of the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame
• 21st-century American sportsmen