Jason Collins' Enduring Legacy as NBA's First Openly Gay Player Jason Collins' decision to come out as gay in 2013 sent shockwaves throughout the sports world.
As an NBA player for over a decade, Collins had navigated the challenges of being an openly gay athlete in a predominantly straight sports environment.
Early Life and Coming Out Growing up in a middle class family in Los Angeles, Collins developed a strong sense of identity and self awareness from a young age.