The Brooklyn Nets had a free roster spot and wanted to fill it with Glen Davis but since he decided to sign with the LA Clippers they then turned to Jason Collins.
Collins will be the first openly gay player in North American professional sports history after reaching an agreement on a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets players seemed willing to welcome Collins with open arms while Deron Williams also admitted it would create a media circus. Head coach Jason Kidd played with Collins between 2001-2008 on the Nets previously and was an advocate of signing him now. Collins also played with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett on the Boston Celtics.
The Nets needed to fill the spot after trading Reggie Evans, missing out on Glen Davis and not coming to an agreement with the Lakers on Jordan Hill. Collins last played with the Washington Wizards in the 2012-13 season where he averaged 1.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in 38 games.
I highly doubt he’ll substantially help the team and while Collins made it clear he wanted this to be a solely basketball decision, you have to wonder if it really was.
Either way it is great to see the league so accepting of his sexuality and one day we’ll get to a point where it doesn’t matter.
Collins is expected to suit up tonight as the Nets play the Lakers.
