NBA

Nets Win is regular, though the night is not

LOS ANGELES - On the basketball court , Jason Collins has never had any illusions about who is a player of the lunch - bucket that has made a career of 12 years do not so glamorous tasks of setting screens , rebounding, defense and using as many of his six fouls when necessary .

So it was easy to understand the wonder with open eyes and smiling from ear to ear Collins took him at a press conference overflow Sunday night . Not the kind of setting aside by a veteran of the fin-de- la- bank has signed a 10-day contract .

But when the Nets announced earlier in the day that had signed Collins, understood the meaning : it would be the first openly gay athlete to play in the NBA

It was just that - the game - that Collins preferred to concentrate on , instead of the historical consequences .

Jason Collins , defending MarShon Brooks, became the first openly gay man to play in a NBA game against Lakers.En Pro Basketball: Point Collins Find Back , Moving Forward NBAFebrero 23, 2014

Jason Collins, at a press conference before the Nets - Lakers game in Los Angeles on Sunday , said he was focused on basketball. " I do not have time to really think about the story at this time ," dijo.Jason Collins, First openly gay player in the NBA , signs with networks and on the JuegoFebrero 23, 2014

"Right now I'm focused on trying to learn the plays," Collins said before the victory 108-102 Nets over the Lakers , adding . " Do not have time to really think about the story right now I have only to focus on my job tonight . "

Jason Collins being helped by his new Nets teammates. Jeff Gross / Getty Images

The press conference was just another step in a frantic day.

Collins , who had worked for the Nets in the All-Star Game is supposed to conduct a youth clinic Domingo with his twin brother , Jarron . But woke up at 8:15 am and found a couple of missed calls from his agent, Arn Tellem , and the texts of Networking Coach Jason Kidd. As the news that a deal was imminent was filtered , was inundated with phone calls from friends and family .

Among those who spoke were his friend Robbie Rogers, soccer player Los Angeles Galaxy , who said last year that he was gay, and Rick Welts , who was the first former executive openly gay NBA. Collins, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley , the family went into Staples Center for the highways for a game against the Lakers, a moment culmination of his career starting with him as a network, also face the Lakers as a rookie in the 2002 NBA Finals.

When he was alone in the Santa Monica Mountains , sometimes while wearing a weight vest 30 lbs , Collins had to cling to the hope that the opportunity would eventually come after not getting an invitation to training camp .

With Sunday's match in Collins 's hometown , his family could also attend. Jarron a scout for the Clippers, had been scheduled to be in the game for their work. Their parents watched from a suite.

"Seeing all the work you put in to have this opportunity , I'm very excited," said Jarron Collins , who retired two years ago and occasionally worked with his brother. " My brother and I are very positive people want to think the best . If you put the work in the opportunities will be there for you."

The Nets were the perfect team for Collins to join. If Collins 's reputation as a good teammate was true , he came with strong references . He entered the NBA playing alongside Kidd and confidence of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Boston and Atlanta's Joe Johnson won . His brother was a teammate of Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko of Utah.

"In the society in which we live, this was going to happen eventually ," Pierce said. "He's a guy who will be able to open the door for athletes worldwide. No matter your race, gender or sexuality as it is about being part of a team and care about another " .

When Collins arrived at the team breakfast on Sunday , Williams, an avid golfer, I welcomed him to ask Collins about his golf game definitely subpar .

"The kids know what to expect from me," Collins said. "I 'm not going to magically have a 40- inch vertical shoot 3s . "

Collins , white ribbon wrapped around her left wrist , stretched and ran through layup lines with his new teammates . With Garnett sitting because I rarely play games on consecutive nights , Collins thought the opportunity to come soon.

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He arrived with 10 minutes 28 seconds left in the second quarter , when he took off the sweats and walked to the scorer's table . Collins wore number 46, but soon switched to No. 98, a number that honors the memory of Matthew Shepard , a gay college student who was murdered in 1998.

If it was a seminal moment, was not treated as one. When Collins was announced as he prepared to enter the game , he was greeted with polite applause , and a handful of fans stood to applaud .

Then he went about doing worldly duties for which it was signed , setting a pick in crunch Lakers Jordan Farmar almost immediately. Although he was on the court for just 4:15 in the first half , Collins looked like someone who had not played a competitive basketball game since April.

He picked up an offensive foul , fell feed pick- and- roll of Williams and put on the ground to fight off a loose ball. The most pleasant moment came just before unprotected Collins. He was knocked to the ground by a Laker , drawing a foul. While sitting in court, Kirilenko, Williams and Alan Anderson ran to pull him to his feet.

They had plenty of reasons to make you feel welcome. Such is the depth in the frontcourt Nets - Golden State Warriors 35 years , Jermaine O'Neal came to them for 23 points and 13 rebounds the night before - that Collins became the turning point. He played six minutes of the fourth quarter as the Nets hung in victory.

"It felt as if I had done this a thousand times before," Collins said after the walk to the scorer's table. " My favorite part of the night was when I was Jordan Farmar was complaining about the referees who sat illegal pica. Things like that, that's my job . "

In total , Collins missed his only chance , grabbed two rebounds , had a steal , two turnovers and five fouls .

In a sense, Jason Collins was a typical game - one in which their impact could not be found in the box score .