Jason Collins Quotations

With the winning streaks we've had, we've shown that we're capable of beating the best teams in this league and playing at an extremely high level.

Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation,

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay,

Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

When we get to the point where a gay pro athlete is no longer forced to live in fear that he’ll be shunned by teammates or outed by tabloids, when we get to the point where he plays while his significant other waits in the family room, when we get to the point where he’s not compelled to hide his true self and is able to live an authentic life, then coming out won’t be such a big deal. But we’re not there yet,

I am in love with the creator of heaven and earth. I see the morning sun and thank the Lord for everything that he has blessed me with. That is a perfect start to every morning.

Some people insist they've never met a gay person. But Three Degrees of Jason Collins dictates that no NBA player can claim that anymore. Pro basketball is a family. And pretty much every family I know has a brother, sister or cousin who's gay. In the brotherhood of the NBA, I just happen to be the one who's out.

The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in. I'm much happier since coming out to my friends and family. Being genuine and honest makes me happy.

I knew that I was choosing the road less traveled but I'm not walking it alone.

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

I'm a veteran, and I've earned the right to be heard. I'll lead by example and show that gay players are no different from straight ones. I'm not the loudest person in the room, but I'll speak up when something isn't right. And try to make everyone laugh.

Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start.

When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue.

We're playing good defense against him. It's obviously bothering him for him to say something like that.

He got fined $15,000? Well, maybe we need to get fined, too, because there were some calls tonight that didn't go our way.

He got fined $15,000? Maybe we should get fined, because there were a couple of calls that didn't go our way. But this is the NBA. Referees are going to make calls as a player, you have to play through them.

He might be getting a little frustrated. I think any player that gets in foul trouble consistently might be a little frustrated. There's a number of reasons, but probably number one, he's not on the court as much as he wants to be. That all goes back to playing him tough on the offensive end and attacking.

Guarding Shaq is not a one-man job. It's going to be by committee.

I think he would appreciate someone on his team who isn't afraid to give a hard foul in the playoffs. It's different when someone's your teammate versus someone who's your opponent.

When you're guarding him, it's like pushing a wall for 48 minutes or however long you're in there. He really tries to lean on you. I just tried to do a good job pushing him and make him shoot over me. Whenever he's going to turn to the basket, just stick my chin there or my chest, and hold my position.

Well, Jermaine O'Neal shooting jumpers is what we want. We just have to do a better job putting a hand in his face.

When you're at home, you have to defend your home court. Whatever home court advantage we have, it's a cool energy level.

We need to get our heads out of our (butts).

What I want to say would be out of character for me to say, but we just need to get out heads out of our (rears) and do a better job of playing on the defensive end.

The thing that makes him so effective is when he uses his off hand, his left hand. Sometimes it seems like he is a left-handed player out there.

Sometimes we're not following the game plans. It's a collective effort. It's everybody and we have to do a better job of avoiding it.

Coach gave it to us. He told us what we needed to do.

It's the epitome of a lot of hard work. We're all hitting shots. Seems like if you shoot a 3, it's going in.

It's not good. It's tough because this has been my not-so-bad-as-the-other-one leg. It is better. The night after the game, it was really bad. I couldn't even bend my knee.

They've lost a lot of games this season. When things start going downhill, it seems like it's going downhill quickly. We just had to take advantage of that in the fourth quarter.

In their six losses, three of them have been to the Collins twins. That's the key ingredient right there.

I'll say that the game was definitely called differently than the first two games. I'll let that go.

If he can help the team win some games, that is all I care about. If he came in and helped us win some games then I'm all for it.

The game plan was to give him a lot of looks. It was a team effort. When he gets the ball, everybody on the court has to know where he is.