It takes real courage to speak up when silence feels safer. It’s especially true in the world of pro sports. Like many professional sports leagues, the NBA, in general, was long considered a challenging environment for LGBTQ+ athletes. Heat legend Dwyane Wade faced it all firsthand as he received a lot of backlash for embracing his daughter Zaya’s identity. And who can forget Jason Collins, who came out back in 2013, becoming the first openly gay NBA player? But he remained bold, stating, “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation”. At the time, he received a bag of mixed reviews for his boldness.

Some couldn’t accept it. Sports analyst Chris Broussard voiced his disapproval on Outside the Lines, calling homosexuality a sin. His words caused a stir and led ESPN to issue a public apology. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro also downplayed the moment, saying it wasn’t heroic. But others stood by Collins. President Obama called to say he admired Collins’ courage and wanted to show support. Even Kobe Bryant tweeted, “Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don’t suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others.” 

Fast forward to now, and Collins just got married! The celebration included big names like Octavia Spencer, Allison Bainney, and former teammate Richard Jefferson. After the event, Collins took the chance to share a picture of himself with his twin brother Jarron Collins and Richard Jefferson, all enjoying the moment. Collins later shared the moment in his IG account, writing, “Good luck calling the game tonight @richardjefferson”. Collins didn’t forget to appreciate Richard, who now has a packed schedule these days, given that the NBA playoffs run parallel. He added, “Safe travels back to #Minnesota.” It was a clever nod to Jefferson’s dual duty as friend and analyst, squeezing in celebration before heading back to work.

Jason Collins first came out publicly in 2013, making history as the first openly gay athlete in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues. At the time, he mentioned he was single and intended to keep his personal life private. Later that year, he began dating Brunson Green, a film producer known for The Help and Pretty Ugly People. Their relationship quietly grew over the years, eventually leading to an engagement at the Los Angeles Lakers Pride Night in 2023. Now, after more than a decade together, they’ve officially tied the knot.

Jason Collins reveals details about being blackballed

For Jason Collins, coming out wasn’t just a personal milestone; rather, it became a professional turning point he didn’t expect. Despite playing meaningful minutes with the Celtics and Wizards in the 2012–2013 season, Collins found himself without a team the following year. Crazy right?

Well, for Collins, it didn’t seem like it had anything to do with his lack of talent. Rather, he recently shared that he felt his skill was overlooked for reasons beyond basketball. “I started seeing people get signed to teams that quite frankly, I knew that I was better than,” Collins said, pointing to what he believed was clear bias after his announcement. And this legend once made a claim that would agree with Collins’ claims.

Though he’d made his decision to come out during the offseason to avoid distractions, the silence that followed from NBA teams spoke volumes. It wasn’t just about stats. Collins knew his strengths. He brought leadership, defense, and presence to any locker room. So, how can he be overlooked like that? “I had great games playing with the Celtics and with the Wizards. I demonstrated that I was still an NBA player,” he shared. Yet the league didn’t seem to agree, well, at least not right away. The delay in offers left him questioning if honesty had come at too high a price.

Almost a year passed before he got a call. The Brooklyn Nets, his original team, extended a ten-day contract. He was 35, far from his athletic prime, but mentally sharper than ever. “If I ever got back in the NBA, I would love to play against that team, that franchise, and prove to them that they made a mistake,” he admitted. That fire, that sense of unfinished business, was what kept him going.

In the end, Collins did more than return to the court, and the result? He became a symbol! His presence challenged the status quo and proved that authenticity and performance could share the same jersey.