Civil rights history will be made Sunday. And if not Sunday, shortly thereafter.
The Nets plan to sign Jason Collins on Sunday, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles reports, and he should be eligible to play in Brooklyn's game against the Lakers on Sunday night. This will make Collins the first openly gay athlete in a major male American sport — NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL.
Jason Collins has a meeting with the Nets in a few hours and is expected to sign, source tells ESPN.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 23, 2014
Collins is expected to be a member of the Nets by tonight's game with the Lakers at Staples Center, source tells ESPN
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 23, 2014
Jason Collins wanted 1 thing, for this to be a basketball decision. It is. Nets traded Evans & missed on Davis, have a need for his skills
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 23, 2014
When he joins the Nets, Jason Collins will officially become the first openly gay athlete in pro sports. Man that felt great to type that.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 23, 2014
The Nets were deciding between signing Collins and the recently waived Glen Davis. But Davis appears close to be signing with the Clippers instead. Brooklyn moved quickly to bolster its frontcourt after the team traded Reggie Evans to the Kings in the Jason Terry-Marcus Thornton trade.
Considering that Golden State center Jermaine O'Neal scored 23 points and 13 rebounds Saturday night in ORACLE Arena. The Warriors outscored the Nets 52-38 in the paint without David Lee and Andrew Bogut. A defensive player like Collins would certainly help the Nets try to climb the Playoff ladder.
A day after NFL prospect Michael Sam reported at the NFL combine that he received no questions about his sexual orientation and wants to keep all focus on the field, the Nets — with their very notably Russian owner — are doing just that in signing Collins.
As Jason's twin brother Jarron Collins noted on Twitter, today is a very special day:
Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. Today should be a pretty cool day!
— jarron collins (@jarronctwin) February 23, 2014
