Jason Collins could stay with the Nets the rest of the year. (USATSI)
The Brooklyn Nets faced a media typhoon when they signed Jason Collins, the first openly gay American pro sports athlete. There was a concern in some circles that would prove to be too much of a distraction. But with Collins' 10-day contract set to expire next week, the New York Post reports that the Nets are probably keeping Collins not just for another 10-day but for the rest of the season.
In his second game with the Nets, Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in major American sports, received a few more minutes against the Blazers. After sitting for the first three quarters, Collins came in to begin the fourth and played just over seven minutes, with his lone contribution on the stat line being one shot attempt that got blocked.
“Game action is game action,” Collins said afterward. “But tonight, Portland attacked from the start, and it was hard to try to get back into the game.”
Collins' 10-day contract expires early next week, but the Nets are all but certain to keep him for the rest of the season.
via New Net Thornton shows skills on offense | New York Post.
There will still be speculation that the decision to bring Collins on is more about PR than it is about basketball. But the options for the Nets to find a better fit in terms of locker room presence, whatever his sexuality, and on-court skillset are limited. Collins being re-signed would be a good thing for the league and avoid the perception that Collins was cut on account of his being a distraction.
We'll see what the Nets decide next week.
HT: HoopsHype
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Mask-wearing LeBron James appears a go against Knicks Thursday
This is not a surprise, and coaches always tend to cover their bases when speaking to media, but it looks like LeBron James is a go against the Knicks wearing a mask to protect his broken nose.
Erik Spoelstra says LeBron went through walkthrough and anticipation is he plays, "So I would say in strong pencil."—
Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) February 27, 2014
LeBron suffered a broken nose when hit by Serge Ibaka on a drive late in the game against Oklahoma City. LeBron finished the drive with a basket (and no foul was called) but had to leave the game. He sat out the Heat’s game Sunday against Chicago because of it.
LeBron played for part of a season in Cleveland with a mask and his numbers pretty much paralleled his regular season stats (if anything they were slightly better).
Getting used to the mask against the Knicks “defense” seems a good way to break in slowly.
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