9-Time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard Tells Fox Sports "I'm Not Gay"

9-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard

In an interview with Fox Sports, NBA star Dwight Howard directly addresses allegations whether he is gay and how a slew of rumors begun in the fall of 2018 impacted his life.

Speaking to reporter Kristine Leahy, Howard says in simple language, “I’m not gay.”

“It’s a lot of people who are [gay], and they have to hide,” he said.

Howard, who is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies roster, says the experience of gay rumors swirling around him gave him a new perspective in how he views gay athletes.

“I went through a situation last year that really just set me free,” he tells Leahy. “It ended up being a situation that…went viral.”

“People were talking about it, and it upset me because I didn’t even know who the person was,” he continued. “Why would somebody who I never met, never had any contact with, make up a whole story about me?”

Howard described the reaction from people as “hate, pure hate,” and that it felt like it “piled up” everywhere he went.

“I think that liberated me,” shared the 33-year-old athlete. “Because I saw how a lot of people would feel, whether they’re gay or they’re straight; whether they have issues; people are afraid to be who they are.”

“They’re afraid to just step out and be because they’re afraid of what other people might say or think about them,” said Howard. “That situation made me realize ‘You’re not like this, but just be you, be free.’”

"I'm not gay... It hurt at first to go through it. I sat at home and I was like 'I never want to come outside again.'" @DwightHoward spoke on the allegations that he was gay.

(🎥: @FairGameonFS1 | @KristineLeahy) pic.twitter.com/WcXz2WtOfY

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 16, 2019

The issue began last November with a series of tweets by a gay man named Masin Elije, who claimed he had been having a 'relationship' with Howard.

Elije says he met the NBA player at a Wild N Out event, and were soon chatting in direct messages on Instagram.

Describing Howard as “fine, 6’11”, goofy and very charming,” Elije alleged the two men began exchanging nude photos and developed some kind of relationship.

I was afraid to speak but today my life was threatened after I was sexually harassed, threatened and manipulated, by someone I respected, my ex boyfriend NBA player Dwight Howard, and his camp also “”catfished”” by his disrespectful ass PASTOR pic.twitter.com/n1I1fwDcUw

— Ah-Mazìn (@MasinElije) November 25, 2018

Elije went on to tweet that Howard had ‘cheated’ on him with a ‘transgender prostitute.’ Eventually, Elije accused Howard of physically threatening him if he didn’t sign a non-disclosure agreement.

After Elije filed a lawsuit against Howard in March, the 9-time All-Star denied all of the allegations by Elije to TMZ saying, “I don’t know this person, never seen him. Any allegation said about me is false.”

Howard filed a counter-suit against Elije asking for $10 million in damages, and described Elije’s lawsuit as a “money grab.”

The website ClutchPoints.com reported in November they had found at least two previous claims by Elije that were proven to be false.

San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich: Unless Race Is Talked About, It's Not Going To Get Better

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich

During a press conference yesterday, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich shared his thoughts on the current #TakeAKnee protests by professional athletes regarding injustices and treatment of black Americans.

Popovich told the press, in part, "There has to be an uncomfortable element in the discourse for anything to change."

Obviously, you know, race is the elephant in the room and we all understand that. Unless it is talked about constantly, it’s not going to get better. People get bored. ‘Oh, is it that again. They pulled the race card again. Why do we have to talk about that?’

Well, because it’s uncomfortable. There has to be an uncomfortable element in the discourse for anything to change. You know, whether it’s the LGBT movement, or women’s suffrage, race - it doesn’t matter.

People have to be made to feel uncomfortable, and especially white people, because we’re comfortable. We still have no clue what being born white means. And, if you read some of the recent literature, you realize there really is no such thing as whiteness. We kind of made it up. That’s not my original thought, but it’s true.

It’s hard to sit down and decide that, yes, it’s like you’re at the 50-meter mark in a 100-meter dash. You’ve got that kind of a lead, yes, because you were born white. You have advantages that are systemically, culturally, psychologically there. And they’ve been built up and cemented for hundreds of years.

But many people can’t look at it. It’s too difficult. It can’t be something that’s on their plate on a daily basis. People want to hold their position, people want their status quo, people don’t want to give that up. And until it’s given up, it’s not going to be fixed.

Watch those remarks below, and you can see the full 21-minute speech here.

Gregg Popovich: 'We still have no clue of what being born white means.' pic.twitter.com/whTL7y4ktu

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 25, 2017

NBA Announces New Orleans Will Host 2017 All-Star Game

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory

The NBA has announced that the 2017 All-Star Game will be held in New Orleans after moving the event from Charlotte, North Carolina, in the aftermath of that state's discriminatory, anti-LGBT legislation known as HB2.

Via the AP:

New Orleans, announced Friday as the new location of the game, replaces Charlotte, which was set to host the game until the NBA decided last month to move it elsewhere.

Unlike several other Southern states, Louisiana has not been swept up in legislative efforts to pass laws similar to that in North Carolina — a fact Gov. John Bel Edwards has touted while lobbying the NBA to bring its All-Star weekend to New Orleans.

"We embrace our rich cultural heritage and see our diversity as a virtue," Edwards wrote in a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in late July. "Should the NBA choose to bring the All-Star Game back to New Orleans in 2017, it will strongly reaffirm its commitment to communities that value fairness and inclusion."

The Human Rights Campaign responds:

“By moving the 2017 All-Star Game to New Orleans, the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver have sent a clear message to lawmakers in North Carolina and across the country that discrimination against LGBTQ people has consequences and will not be tolerated,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

“New Orleans' explicit LGBTQ non-discrimination protections will ensure all NBA employees, players, and fans who participate in the All-Star Game are protected from discrimination.

"Governor Pat McCrory and state lawmakers should use this as an opportunity to halt their assault on the people, reputation, and economy of North Carolina, and work toward replacing HB2 with commonsense non-discrimination protections. We look forward to the day when all North Carolinians can live their lives free from discrimination, and Charlotte is able to welcome back the All-Star Game.”

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory continues to claim HB2 has had no economic impact on his state even as dozens of conventions and events have pulled out of North Carolina over the divisive legislation costing the state untold millions of dollars.

McCrory currently trails his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Roy Cooper by 7 points in the latest NBC News poll.

How The Golden State Warriors President Helped Move The 2017 All-Stars Game From North Carolina

According to USA Today, one of the major turning points for the NBA's decision to move the 2017 All-Star game from North Carolina came two weeks ago at a Las Vegas meeting of high-ranking league execs.

USA Today reports:

In a poignant address, Golden State Warriors president and chief operating officer Rick Welts, 63, who is openly gay, explained his meaningful and lifelong affiliation with the NBA and told league owners he didn’t feel comfortable attending the All-Star Game in Charlotte if the law remained as is.

His words weren’t emotional, and they weren’t delivered as a threat. But Welts, who was instrumental in shaping All-Star weekend into the big-time event it is today, didn’t plan on attending if the North Carolina law wasn’t repealed or changed.

Following the meeting, a few owners talked, and a prevailing message emerged: If Rick Welts doesn’t feel comfortable coming to the All-Star Game, the decision to relocate just got easier.

They probably didn't know it at the time, but this was clearly an "It Gets Better" moment. One more example of how our visibility and honest self-expression lead to positive change.

Here's a little more about Welts.

(h/t JMG)

NBA Announces No 2017 All-Star Game For North Carolina Due To Anti-LGBT Law HB2

Yahoo Sports' The Vertical is reporting that the NBA will soon announce that the 2017 All-Stars game will be pulled from North Carolina over it's hateful anti-LGBT legislation, HB2.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver had threatened to move All-Star Weekend out of Charlotte unless a discriminatory North Carolina law aimed at the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community was changed – and time to do so has run out because of the logistics and planning the NBA needs to run its marquee midseason event, league sources said.

The issue is centered on North Carolina’s House Bill 2, a law that mandates transgender people use public restrooms corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificates. The law also omits LGBT people from North Carolina’s anti-discrimination protections, forbids local governments from widening LGBT protections and excludes all forms of workplace discrimination lawsuits from North Carolina state courts.

New Orleans, which last hosted an All-Star game in 2014, now looks to be the leading contender to host the event.

Here's the official notice from the NBA:

The NBA has decided to relocate the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte with the hope of rescheduling for 2019. Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change. We have been guided in these discussions by the long-standing core values of our league. These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view.

Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community – current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans. While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2.

We are particularly mindful of the impact of this decision on our fans in North Carolina, who are among the most passionate in our league. It is also important to stress that the City of Charlotte and the Hornets organization have sought to provide an inclusive environment and that the Hornets will continue to ensure that all patrons – including members of the LGBT community – feel welcome while attending games and events in their arena.

We look forward to re-starting plans for our All-Star festivities in Charlotte for 2019 provided there is an appropriate resolution to this matter. The NBA will make an announcement on the new location of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game in the coming weeks.

The Human Rights Campaign chimes in with praise:

Today the NBA and Commissioner Silver sent a clear message that they won’t stand for discrimination against LGBTQ employees, players or fans.

The NBA repeatedly warned state lawmakers that their hateful HB2 law created an inhospitable environment for their 2017 All-Star Game and other events.

Nevertheless, Governor McCrory, Senator Berger and Speaker Moore doubled down on HB2 and refused to undo their discriminatory and costly error in judgment.

Every day that HB2 remains on the books, people across North Carolina are at risk of real harm.

We appreciate the leadership of the NBA in standing up for equality and call once again on lawmakers to repeal this vile HB2 law.

GLSEN Partners With NBA For Pride T-Shirts

In celebration of LGBT Pride Month, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) announced a new collaboration between the NBA, GLSEN, and Teespring.

Beginning on June 7, fans can purchase an exclusive line of Teespring NBA Pride T-shirts featuring the logos of all 30 NBA teams, with all proceeds benefiting GLSEN.

From GLSEN’s Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard:

“Support from professional sports for LGBT people has been one of the biggest cultural developments of the past five years, and the NBA has consistently led the way. Thank you, NBA and Teespring, for this generous support, and for standing with your LGBT fans, LGBT youth, and GLSEN with these Pride-themed shirts.

For LGBT fans and players alike, visibility and inclusion in the family of sports remains a key goal. The entire GLSEN family is proud of our longstanding partnership with the NBA, and excited about all of the work we are doing together to make K-12 physical education and athletics – and all of K-12 education – more inclusive and welcoming of LGBT students.”

San Francisco: NBA Finals Watching Party With Out NBA Prospect Derrick Gordon

Basketball's first out college player and the NBA's first out prospect will be hosting viewing parties in San Francisco at the Lookout as the NBA finals get under way.

If you're in San Francisco, go cheer the Golden Warriors on with Derrick - starting tonight at 6PM.

NBA To North Carolina: Change Anti-LGBT Hate Law Or We Move 2017 All-Star Game

More bad news for North Carolina in the aftermath of the state's anti-LGBT legislation, HB2.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that the hate law remains "problematic" for the league, and if the law is unchanged by next year, the currently scheduled All-Star game will have to be moved to a new location outside of North Carolina.

From the Charlotte Observer:

Silver’s comments on the state’s controversial House Bill 2 came at the Associated Press Sports Editors’ commissioner meetings Thursday, according to attendees.

Earlier in the day, Silver again called the law “problematic” for the league as it stands, but he said he’s confident state lawmakers will “do the right thing.”

“We’ve been, I think, crystal clear a change in the law is necessary for us to play in the kind of environment that we think is appropriate for a celebratory NBA event,” Silver said at the APSE event.

And speaking on ESPN’s Mike & Mike morning radio show, Silver said the NBA is more interested in working with local businesses and governments to effect change in the law, rather than in setting ultimatums about the 2017 All-Star Game, which is to take place in Charlotte.

News Round-Up: April 15, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Pharmacist, model and underwear designer Todd Sanfield talks on (and models) his new collection

• Hillary Clinton to meet with HIV/AIDS activists on May 13th

• The mayor of Washington, D.C. calls for a vote to grant statehood to the nation's capital

• Cirque du Soleil joins the list of cancelled performances in North Carolina cities over anti-LGBT law HB2

• The NBA says that while North Carolina's HB2 is "problematic," they won't be moving next year's scheduled All-Star game because that would be "grandstanding."

• Sen. Ted Cruz attacks Donald Trump for former praise of New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio

NBA To North Carolina: We May Move 2017 All-Star Game Over Anti-LGBT Law

The NBA is just one of many major businesses concerned about anti-LGBT law HB2

In response to North Carolina's new anti-LGBT law, HB2, which strips all protections for LGBTs off the books, the NBA has issued a statement hinting that Charlotte could lose the 2017 All-Star Game.

From The Bleacher Report:

"The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events," the statement read. "We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not know yet what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte."

On Wednesday, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed a bill that blocks its cities from allowing transgender individuals to use public restrooms of the gender they identify as, per Dave Philipps of the New York Times. Individuals will instead be forced to use the restrooms of their birth gender.

The law superseded an attempt by Charlotte's city government to allow transgender individuals to pick their restroom based on the gender of their choosing. The city council approved the bill in February despite the Republican governor's protestation.

North Carolina's new law has been widely criticized in the LGBT community as being discriminatory not only toward transgender individuals but gays and lesbians as well.

The NBA awarded the 2017 All-Star Game last summer. It would be an unprecedented step to strip a city of the event based on legislation outside the citizens' control, but it would also be a strong message in support of the LGBT community.

NBA-er Rajon Rondo Issues Non-Apology For Calling Referee "Mother-f**king-faggot"

In the aftermath of an ugly altercation between NBA referee Bill Kennedy and Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo, two moments emerged.

First, the backstory - the on-court altercation happened when referee Bill Kennedy called a technical foul on Rondo. Rondo began stalking the referee on the court, eventually getting in Kennedy's face telling him “You’re a mother———- faggot. … You’re a f——— faggot, Billy.”

Since then, Bill Kennedy came out.

"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man," Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. "I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are."

And yesterday, Rondo issued a non-apology via Twitter:

My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period!

— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015

They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone.

— Rajon Rondo (@RajonRondo) December 14, 2015

Because nothing says "respect" more than calling someone a "mother-f**king-faggot."

Rondo initially denied using the slur until video taped evidence was examined by two independent experts, and the other officials were interviewed privately and all accounts confirmed the report.

Rondo will make $9.5 million this season, and his one game suspension for tonight's game against the Houston Rockets will cost him $86,300.

You can watch the aggressive behavior that led to Rondo's ejection below.

UPDATE: Rondo has issued a statement via the Sacramento Kings to clarify his tweets and make it clear he is, indeed, apologizing.

“Yesterday, I said that my words toward Bill Kennedy were unacceptable and did not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. Some have interpreted my comments as a non-apology. I want to be clear, from the bottom of my heart that I am truly sorry for what I said to Bill. There is no place on or off the court for language that disrespects anyone’s sexual orientation. That is not who I am or what I believe and I will strive every day to be a better person.”

Watch: The NBA's Powerful Video Honoring MLK Featuring Out NBAer Jason Collins

The NBA has released a powerful video - "Barrier Breakers" - in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Jason Collins' coming out is included in the clip as one of the many barriers shattered over the decades in the NBA.

The NBA has a strong history of firsts when it comes to breaking down racial barriers and proverbial glass ceilings.

In this spot, we explore the strides made within the NBA that not only embody Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but the overall guiding principles of the Civil Rights movement.

(h/t JMG)

Out NBA-er Jason Collins Announces His Retirement From Pro Basketball

Out NBA player Jason Collins

In an open letter written for Sports Illustrated, Jason Collins has announced his retirement from the NBA.

In April 2013, the 13 year veteran became the first openly gay basketball player in the NBA. Although there was talk of the announcement ending his career, it did not. He went on to play last season with the Brooklyn Nets.

His first appearance on the court after coming out was an electrifying moment in sports history.

It has been 18 exhilarating months since I came out in Sports Illustrated as the first openly gay man in one of the four major professional team sports. And it has been nine months since I signed with the Nets and became the first openly gay male athlete to appear in a game in one of those leagues. It feels wonderful to have been part of these milestones for sports and for gay rights, and to have been embraced by the public, the coaches, the players, the league and history.

On Wednesday at the Barclays Center, I plan to announce my retirement as an NBA player. The day will be especially meaningful for me because the Nets will be playing the Bucks, who are coached by Jason Kidd, my former teammate and my coach in Brooklyn. It was Jason who cheered my decision to come out by posting on Twitter: “Jason’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great friend and was a great teammate.”

There are still no publicly gay players in the NFL, NHL or major league baseball. Believe me: They exist. Every pro sport has them. I know some of them personally. When we get to the point where a gay pro athlete is no longer forced to live in fear that he’ll be shunned by teammates or outed by tabloids, when we get to the point where he plays while his significant other waits in the family room, when we get to the point where he’s not compelled to hide his true self and is able to live an authentic life, then coming out won’t be such a big deal. But we’re not there yet.

I met Jason earlier this year at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention in Chicago. He spoke to the entire convention, and it was impossible to walk away without noting the ease and confidence with which Collins carried himself. He is clearly someone comfortable in his own skin.

Clearly it was that confidence that allowed him to make the decision to come out. And that decision paved the way for others to follow him out of the closet. From the Washington Post:

What Collins accomplished, however, was hardly irrelevant. His decision to bust through barriers has made it easier for other high-profile male athletes to do the same. In April of this year, the University of Massachusetts’s Derrick Gordon came out to become the first openly gay athlete in NCAA Division I basketball. And a month later, Michael Sam, who had announced he was gay shortly after the Super Bowl this year, became the first openly gay athlete to be drafted by the NFL. Both Sam and Gordon have credited Collins as inspiration for them to be themselves openly.

I look forward to what lies ahead in his journey.

Out NFL-er Michael Sam congratulated Collins on his long, successful career via Twitter:

Congrats to @jasoncollins98 on the end of a long and successful career. Wishing you the best on what's to come next, I know it'll be great

— Michael Sam (@MichaelSamNFL) November 19, 2014

Jason Collins shares his coming out experience in a media firestorm in hour long chat

At last week's 2014 National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association summit, ESPN NBA editor Kevin Arnovitz sat down with out NBA-er Jason Collins for an extended chat on his experience with the media while coming out in the major leagues.

Collins became the first openly gay active NBA player and he joined the Brooklyn Nets in February 2014.

During the lengthy discussion (over an hour), Jason was warm, candid, and laughed quite a bit as he shared his thoughts on the process of coming out in a media firestorm, what the landscape for out athletes looks like now, plus what the future hold for him.

Before his coming out announcement, Jason credited media training where he learned to pivot from awkward questions, and to not "give any additional ammunition" to "the haters."

Jason also shared this for those who are still in the closet: "When you do come out, your life is going to get much better."

Jason was more than generous with his time taking photos with everyone who approached him, and never looked like he was rushing the appearance at all.  He could not have been nicer.

And props to Arnovitz for his excellent Q&A plus follow-up.  Nice to see someone who knows what they're doing.

I didn't start recording until ten seconds into Jason's first comment - my apologies. The recording begins as Jason talks on discussions he had with his Stanford college roommate U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, (who is not gay) about his first thoughts on coming out.

Jason Collins talks on "code words" used to describe out athletes

Jason Collins recently stopped by TakePart Live to chat on the media firestorm that happens when you're the first out athlete to play in a major sports league.

Collins breaks down NFL coach Tony Dungy's offensive comments about not wanting to coach openly gay football player Michael Sam, and dangerous code words the athletic community uses to describe homosexuality.

"I think that personnel, coaches, owners — can look at my example, my journey in the NBA and see that after two weeks back, it was about basketball," Collins says in reference to Dungy's comments.

"There were games, especially a month after I was signed that reporters didn't even ask me any questions. It will always go back to the sport because there are only so many ways they can write the article. There are only so many ways they can keep talking about LGBT issues when you're a professional athlete because you're a professional athlete first."

"I kinda laugh every time I hear a code word being used…. Any kind of minority group, and you hear people use different code words and you're like, 'I know what you're really saying and I'm above that,'" Collins remarks.



(via TakePart Live)

Huge Honor! Out NBA-er Jason Collins get Time Magazine cover

Out Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins gets honored with an 'Inside Cover' in Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" issue.

Beyonce is featured on the front cover, and Collins along with Robert Redford and GM CEO Mary Barra appear in the fold out inside covers.

Word is the article about Collins was penned by Chelsea Clinton.

(h/t Towleroad)

Brooklyn Nets tie franchise record with 13 straight home wins

Openly gay Brooklyn Nets' Jason Collins

For a team that started 10-21, things have really turned around for the Brooklyn Nets, who could find themselves in the playoffs this season.

Hmmm, now what's changed lately with the Brooklyn Nets.  Let me think now...

Jason Collins to finish NBA season with Brooklyn Nets

ESPN is reporting that out NBA-er Jason Collins, currently on his second 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, will finish out the season with the team:

Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the Nets, who feel they're getting everything they expected from Collins when they signed him for frontcourt depth Feb. 23, are already operating under the premise that the 34-year-old will finish the season with them even though his second 10-day deal doesn't expire until after Friday.

Sources say that the internal expectation all along was that Collins would be a Net for the rest of the season, from the moment he signed his first 10-day deal, as long he proved that could still be an effective defender, which he did immediately.

Collins recently played 20 minutes in a 104-89 win over Sacramento last Sunday.

Proceeds from sales of Jason Collins' jersey to go to LGBT causes

Since being signed by the Brooklyn Nets last week, Jason Colllins' jersey has become the #1 selling jersey on NBAStore.com.

Now, the NBA has announced that all proceeds from sales of Collins' jerseys will be donated to LGBT causes, specifically GLSEN and the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

The Guardian reports:

The league said on Friday that donations would total no less than $100,000, and it will also auction off Collins’s autographed, game-worn jerseys to benefit the same organisations.

Collins says he is thrilled to help the organisations that “work tirelessly to ensure LGBT youth get the resources and assistance they need to be successful in life”.

Out NBA-er Jason Collins signed by Brooklyn Nets

From Yahoo Sports:

Jason Collins has reached agreement on a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, clearing the way for the first openly gay athlete in major professional sports history, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Collins will be signed and available to play on Sunday when the Nets meet the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, sources told Yahoo.

Collins, 35, has been out of the NBA since completing the 2012-'13 season with the Washington Wizards.

Collins played parts of seven years with the Nets between 2001-08, and his ex-teammate, Jason Kidd, now the Nets coach, has been advocate of signing him.

Hudson Taylor, Executive Director of Athlete Ally issued a statement via press release: "I have seen first hand how committed the NBA is to ensuring that every team is welcoming and inclusive. It's invested in this effort and it's invested in Jason. I could not be happier for the NBA family today. Congratulations!"



(h/t JMG)