The NBA or the Basketball Hall of Fame should create a Jason Collins Award for Courage

There’s a natural tendency to compare Collins’ breakthrough to Jackie Robinson’s. There are a lot of similarities, but some notable differences.

Robinson was an ideal man to break baseball’s color barrier for a lot of reasons. He was strong and he was poised, capable of fighting back, but judicious about when to make a stand.

But his talent was critical.

It was impossible to dismiss him for racial reasons and then pretend he wasn’t good enough, a tactic used with discouraging efficiency to blackball Colin Kaepernick in the NFL.

Robinson was a star and spent a career burning the teams who let the Dodgers beat them to the front of the line. He won an MVP and a batting title and was a seven-time All-Star. He’d have been a Hall of Famer whether or not he was a pioneer.

Collins’ legacy doesn’t have the backing of Hall of Fame numbers. He was a good player and a good teammate, but hardly a superstar.

Collins was a journeyman who never averaged more than 6.4 points or 6.1 rebounds. Collins came out late in his career and only played 22 more games before retiring at 35.

But by playing those 22 games, he shielded someone else from having to live in the spotlight that comes with being the first. He did it with class and with dignity. After his playing career ended, he continued to make an impact as a public speaker and an activist raising money for the Trevor Project, which works “to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.”

The sports landscape is hopefully headed to a future where a player’s sexual orientation isn’t notable. But it was when Collins made his announcement and would still be today. Thirteen years later, there still hasn’t been an openly gay player in the NHL or MLB and there aren’t any active ones in the NBA or NFL.

Maybe someday Collins will earn consideration for Hall of Fame enshrinement as a contributor. History will decide his eventual legacy.

But the NBA or the Naismith Hall of Fame should be more proactive. The NHL honors Willie O’Ree, who broke its color barrier with an award for his accomplishment and his efforts to grow the game.

The Naismith Hall of Fame should create a “Jason Collins Award for Courage.” It could annually honor a male and a female at any level of basketball, who uses basketball to help them make a positive impact in the world.

“Jason changed lives through his courage, authenticity, and commitment to helping others feel seen,” said tennis icon Billie Jean King, who was among the first female athletes to come out. “His legacy extends far beyond basketball. He helped move sports and society forward with strength.”

An award in his name would honor other great people in the game and create a perfect way to honor Jason Collins and his important legacy. It’s too bad it didn’t happen when he was alive.

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