Jason Collins says only one NBA player has taunted him for being gay

Jason Collins, who became the first openly gay player in NBA history when the Brooklyn Nets signed him earlier this season, says that only one unnamed player has taunted him for his sexual orientation.

“One player, one knucklehead from another team,” Collins told the New York Daily News. “He’s a knucklehead. So I just let it go. Again, that goes back to controlling what you can control. That’s how I conduct myself — just being professional.”

After some said Collins would prove to be a distraction for the Nets, he is pleased to note that Brooklyn has gone 10-3 since signing him.

“Not just for myself, but I think for everyone. This shows that ‘distraction’ is [bunk]. That it’s about the team, it’s about the sport,” Collins said.

“I hope this shows all players that you can still have your life off the court and not have to hide anything. And still have your life on the court or on the field or on the ice, I guess, in hockey. That’s a credit to my teammates and the entire Nets organization from ownership to coaching to teammates to everyone.”

ALSO:

Elgin Cook leads Oregon past BYU, 87-68

12th-seeded Harvard upsets Cincinnati, 61-57

Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray end successful two-year coaching relationship