First out NBA player Jason Collins considering retirement
Jason Collins, the first out NBA player, has revealed he is considering retiring from the sport.
The 35-year-old basketball star, who last year became the first player to come out and continue playing, told a crowd on Monday that he no longer feels he is playing at the same standard.
He said: “I used to be able to jump and touch the top of the white square behind the rim with ease.
“As the years go by, you watch your hand go lower and lower on that square. Father Time is undefeated against us all.
“I’m really grateful for my Stanford degree now. On the other hand, I can still dunk.”
Explaining the level of ignorance he faces on a regular basis, Collins revealed he has to “explain what LGBT stands for” to fellow players.
In the past year, the Brooklyn Nets player has focussed on LGBT activism in addition to his sports career, spearheading the United Nations ‘Free & Equal’ video campaign, and commemorating murdered gay teenager Matthew Shepard during a match.
Collins was recently named as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people. In March, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season.
