Jason Collins changed the game, all games, with his courage to come out

TL;DR

Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in major North American sports, changed the landscape for LGBTQ+ athletes. His legacy transcends basketball, inspiring others to come out and be true to themselves.

Key points

Jason Collins was the first openly gay player in major North American sports.
His legacy is compared to that of LeBron James and Steph Curry.
Collins' coming out changed the perception of LGBTQ+ athletes.
Before Collins, gay male athletes felt they had to hide their identities.
His courage has inspired others to come out in professional sports.

Mentioned in this story

Jason CollinsLeBron JamesSteph Curry

Jason Collins never won an NBA title or made an All-Star team, and you won’t find his name among the career leaders in any statistical category.

Yet, his legacy will be as great as that of LeBron James or Steph Curry. Maybe greater, because Collins’ impact goes well beyond basketball.

There was a before Jason Collins, when gay male athletes felt no choice but to hide their true selves and young men searching for someone like them in professional male sports thought they were alone.

And, thankfully, there is an after.

The number of male athletes who played major professional sports after coming out is still dishearteningly small, but it is no longer zero. No one will have to bear the colossal burden of being the very first openly gay man in any of the major professional leagues because Collins was courageous enough to do it.

That is his legacy. That is his gift to every athlete who comes after him.

“Jason changed lives through his courage, authenticity, and commitment to helping others feel seen,” tennis great Billie Jean King, the first prominent female professional athlete to come out, said in a statement on social media.

“His legacy extends far beyond basketball. He helped move sports and society forward with strength.”

Collins’ family announced Tuesday, May 12, that the former NBA center had died. The 47-year-old revealed in December that he’d been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.

Barret Robbins, football, 1973-2026

Q&A

What impact did Jason Collins have on LGBTQ+ athletes in sports?

Jason Collins' courage to come out as the first openly gay player in major North American sports paved the way for future athletes to embrace their identities.

How does Jason Collins' legacy compare to NBA stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry?

While Collins never won an NBA title or made an All-Star team, his legacy is considered as significant, if not greater, due to his groundbreaking impact on the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in sports.

What was the state of LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports before Jason Collins?

Before Jason Collins, gay male athletes often felt compelled to hide their true selves, with no openly gay players in major professional leagues.

How many male athletes have come out in major professional sports after Jason Collins?

The number of male athletes who have come out in major professional sports remains small, but it is no longer zero, thanks to Collins' pioneering example.