NBA Archives

March 1, 2014August 19, 2019

Proceeds from sales of Jason Collins’ jersey to go to LGBT causes

Since being signed by the Brooklyn Nets last week, Jason Colllins’ jersey has become the #1 selling jersey on NBAStore.com.

Now, the NBA has announced that all proceeds from sales of Collins’ jerseys will be donated to LGBT causes, specifically GLSEN and the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

The Guardian reports:

The league said on Friday that donations would total no less than $100,000, and it will also auction off Collins’s autographed, game-worn jerseys to benefit the same organisations.

Collins says he is thrilled to help the organisations that “work tirelessly to ensure LGBT youth get the resources and assistance they need to be successful in life”.

February 23, 2014August 19, 2019

Out NBA-er Jason Collins signed by Brooklyn Nets

From Yahoo Sports:

Jason Collins has reached agreement on a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, clearing the way for the first openly gay athlete in major professional sports history, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Collins will be signed and available to play on Sunday when the Nets meet the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, sources told Yahoo.

Collins, 35, has been out of the NBA since completing the 2012-’13 season with the Washington Wizards.

Collins played parts of seven years with the Nets between 2001-08, and his ex-teammate, Jason Kidd, now the Nets coach, has been advocate of signing him.

Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally issued a statement via press release: “I have seen first hand how committed the NBA is to ensuring that every team is welcoming and inclusive. It’s invested in this effort and it’s invested in Jason. I could not be happier for the NBA family today. Congratulations!”

(h/t JMG)

June 14, 2013August 19, 2019

11 year old Sebastien De La Cruz shrugs off his National Anthem critics

So, I’m sure many of your have seen this in the news cycle lately.

11-year-old Sebastien De La Cruz has had the honor of singing the national anthem prior to Game 3 and Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Finals. While the young Mexican-American boy is living out a dream while showing pride for his heritage, believe it or not, ignorant folks out in the faceless Twitterland have trashed the choice of the young singer because of his appearance and heritage.

De La Cruz is American, not that it should matter; and his choice of costume out of respect for the rich Hispanic population in San Antonio. De La Cruz singing the anthem is an honor, and he knocks it out of the park.

The Spurs and NBA thought so much of Sebastien that they asked him back for Game 4 to sing again.

And yes, he knows what people are saying. But, in what is a testament to his character at such a young age, he shrugs it off.

“It’s not really what other people think about you. It’s what you think about yourself,” Sebastien said.

In case you missed it, below is Sebastien’s 2nd performance of the National Anthem at Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Rock on, Sebastien.

June 9, 2013August 19, 2019

NBA’s Jason Collins marches in Boston Pride Parade

Openly gay NBA player Jason Collins marched in Boston’s pride parade yesterday.

From Sports Illustrated:

Delivering on a promise he made in an essay for Sports Illustrated in which he revealed that he was gay, Wizards free-agent center Jason Collins marched in Boston’s annual pride parade on Saturday.

Wearing a black Nike shirt with rainbow lettering that read “#BETRUE”, Collins joined his former college roommate and current Massachusetts congressman Joe Kennedy at the event, which drew thousands of attendees and is in its 43rd year.

WCBV.com reported that Boston’s parade drew 230 groups this year, making it the second-largest such event, trailing only New York City.

(via JMG)

May 16, 2013August 19, 2019

Jason Collins and Jarron Collins on Jimmy Kimmel

Twins Jason and Jarron (“the straight one”) Collins bring some humor to what might be one of the year’s biggest sports and LGBT stories in a sit-down with Jimmy Kimmel.

When asked if the “coming out” experience was positive, brother Jarron jumps in to share that Jason went from 3,000 Twitter follwers to over 100K in 24 hours.

Yeah, I think folks are not having a big problem with Jason.

There. See? All good.