Top 50 Jason Collins Quotes

Hopefully my actions will make it easier for them to live their life, to be whoever they want to be.

No matter your religion or what your political views are, I think there’s one thing we can all agree on. Most human beings are not meant to be alone. I know I’m not.

When I first came back and I was playing with the Nets, yes, there was a lot of media attention. But after about two weeks, all those stories about being the first gay athlete went away and it became about, ‘Wait, how are the Brooklyn Nets doing?’ The same goes for Robbie Roberts, who won an MLS Cup.

For me it always starts with the core. I’ve learned that the stronger that your core is, the better you are.

I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding.

Anytime you lose a lot of weight you’re going to feel lighter on your feet.

The more people that choose to live an honest and genuine life, the better it is for everyone.

For me, it’s always about being a professional and always being ready.

When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a CIA spy or something.

As a professional athlete, I’ve been booed by 18,000 people.

It’s healthy to have differing opinions in a democracy, but we have to respect each other and challenge ourselves to do better – to be better.

My dream was to play in the NBA and live my authentic life as a proud gay man at the same time. I was able to accomplish both of those goals because of the people who have supported me throughout my life.

My parents worked for Travelers Insurance.

When I was playing with the Brooklyn Nets, we still called people soft, but we never equated it with being gay. It shows people are capable of changing language and culture.

The fact is, people in some communities have been conditioned to instantly feel safe when they see a police car. Others see one and instantly feel anxiety.

I do a lot of core stuff, a lot of different core exercises. I have about 30 to 40 different things I can do. I just mix it up.

I love puzzles, challenges, the feeling that you get when you have an obstacle and go through adversity, finding the strength to go on.

There’s nothing more beautiful than just allowing yourself to really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin.

During that 2011 offseason, as the debate around ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and DOMA was heating up on social media, I had to pull out every last ounce of self-control to keep myself from retweeting something in support of marriage equality.

What I did when I was younger was look up to the guys like Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning who played over a decade. What did they do to last that long? A lot of it is keeping your body in shape, keeping your mind sharp, staying hungry. You should always want guys around like that to set that example, in my mind.

I’ve met many people who have come up to me and told me how my story has impacted them.

As all professional athletes know, Father Time is undefeated, and when I wake up in the morning, my back especially lets me know that it’s about time to bow out gracefully, let the young guys in and move to being a full time fan of the sport.

I’m black and I’m gay.

There were a couple years when I never went on a date. I would stay at home watching TV with my German shepherd, and when people asked what I was doing, I would make up something. So, yeah, I was lonely.

I’m not the loudest person in the room, but I’ll speak up when something isn’t right. And try to make everyone laugh.

There isn’t a professional athlete that doesn’t want to play 12, 13 years.

I’ve been booed before. There have been times when I’ve wanted to boo myself. But a lot of ill feelings can be cured by winning.

You can knock me all you want, but professional basketball players are an elite group and I’ve been doing it 12 years.

I know some people will roll their eyes at this, but it’s not like you can totally put academics on pause during March Madness (well, maybe at some schools). At Stanford, you had to handle your business.

When I think about March Madness ’98, the first thing that comes to mind is Mark ‘Mad Dog’ Madsen’s unorthodox dance moves.

I do identify myself as a black man before I identify myself as a gay man.

I had a happy childhood in the suburbs of L.A. My parents instilled in us an appreciation of history, art and, most important, Motown. Jarron and I weren’t allowed to listen to rap until we were 12. After our birthday I dashed to Target and bought DJ Quik’s album ‘Quik Is the Name.’ I memorized every line.

I check into the game and the ref cleans the whistle off, ‘OK 98s coming in.’ I’m one of those players that’s physical and I use my fouls.

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.

I’m an NBA player.

If you were to ask Tony Dungy if he feels like homophobia is in his level of thinking or if he’s homophobic, he’d say no. Well, if you were to ask Donald Sterling if he sees how his comments are racist, he said no, too. Some people don’t recognize their own racism, homophobia.

Deep down, on a human level, I think everyone knows that it is better to live an authentic life.

I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.

That’s how I conduct myself – just being professional.

It’s always a terrible feeling knowing that you’re about to go home from the NCAA Tournament.

Imagine you’re in the oven, baking. Some of us know and accept our sexuality right away and some need more time to cook. I should know – I baked for 33 years.

There’s only so many times you can write the story about the gay teammate.

I’ve been playing basketball for a long time.

I’ve grown so much as an individual, I’ve come across so many great people, great organizations, heard so many great stories, inspiring stories.

Injuries are part of the game; you’ve got to play through them.

My job as a professional is to be ready when your name and number is called. You always have to be ready.

A team is like a family.

After a game is over, having my boyfriend wait for me in the family room, just like everyone else’s loved one and not having to hide that. That feeling is so awesome. Incredible feeling. Absolutely incredible feeling.

I was comfortable enough in my own skin to come out on my own terms and in my own words.

You know, I mentor a few younger athletes.