[WATCH] NBA Baller Jason Collins, Grants First Interview Since ‘Coming Out’ Announcement

By now, you’ve heard the news. In the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated, NBA player Jason Collins is now the first openly gay active athlete in a major US professional sport.

The Los Angeles native wrote his own story, and began the article with:

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. My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

He continued:

Why am I coming out now? Well, I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I’m a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall. But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed, I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.

And one day after the news hit, Jason gave an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos, where he discussed his big announcement. Peep a clip of his first interview, since his announcement