With Jason Collins’ revelation and joining the Brooklyn Nets, he became the first openly gay player in the NBA. Michael Sam came out as well and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams becoming the first openly gay player in the NFL. These stories became major headlines making homosexuality and major sports and a big topic. While they’ve received a lot of support, not everyone is okay with that lifestyle and former Warriors coach back to ESPN analyst Mark Jackson is reportedly one of the latter.
During a shoot-around on a road trip before Collins signed, reporters asked then-Golden State Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson his opinion of several big men as possible additions. After someone joked about the signing of former Warriors assistant coach Brian Scalabrine to a 10-day contract, Collins’ name was brought up.
Jackson, according to a source close to the team, responded tersely:
“Not in my locker room.”
In addition to his work with basketball, Jackson is also a pastor and holds strong to his Christian beliefs against homosexuality.
“I will say this. We live in a country that allows you to be whoever you want to be. As a Christian man, I serve a God that gives you free will to be who you want to be. As a Christian man, I have beliefs of what’s right and what’s wrong. That being said, I know Jason Collins, I know his family, and am certainly praying for them at this time.”
h/t SFBay
