NBA

NBA’s Silver on openly gay pro athletes: ‘We fell behind’

LOS ANGELES — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was understandably excited and proud Jason Collins became the first active openly gay athlete in the four major American professional sports after signing with the Nets Sunday and playing in their 108-102 victory over the Lakers.

But Silver also said it’s disappointing it took this long for this moment to finally happen in the sports world.

“I have mixed feelings, because I’m enormously proud that the first openly gay player is playing in the NBA,” Silver told The Post in a phone interview prior to Sunday’s game. “On the other hand, this is so long overdue that I don’t think this should necessarily be on the list of the greatest accomplishments of the NBA.

“This is an area where no one in sports should be too proud. Sports has led society in so many critical areas … this is one where we fell behind.”

Collins came out publicly in a Sports Illustrated article last spring, making his potential employment a topic of debate up to and through training camp last fall.

When Collins went unsigned heading into the season, Silver said he investigated to make sure the reason Collins wasn’t on a roster was strictly because of his basketball ability, and not anything else.

“I thought his initial announcement and coming out was hugely important for our league, and for all of sports, and I was always hopeful that this day would come,” Silver said. “I was disappointed that he wasn’t on a roster at the opening of this season, but I was satisfied after talking to [Collins’ agent] Arn Tellem and talking to several GMs that teams were making a basketball decision, and the fact he wasn’t on a roster at the beginning of this year wasn’t related to his sexuality.

“And several teams predicted that a team would add him after the trading deadline, so I’m thrilled that this moment has come. And while it shouldn’t be such a big deal, it is a big deal. It’s a big deal for Jason, it’s a big deal for the gay community, and the NBA is proud that he feels comfortable doing it in our league.”

Silver said he wasn’t overly concerned Collins hadn’t been signed for any reasons outside of basketball, but felt he had to make sure that was the case.

“I felt it was my job to ask those questions,” Silver said. “I was reading everything that was being said, and I felt comforted by the fact that Arn and Jason weren’t suggesting there was any discrimination going on.

“But it felt appropriate for me to satisfy myself that it was for basketball reasons, and I was satisfied, and [former commissioner] David Stern was satisfied.”

In a statement Silver released Sunday afternoon shortly after the signing became official, the commissioner said “everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment.”

And while history will show Silver was the commissioner when Collins became the first openly gay player to play in the NBA, that environment was largely created over the last 30 years during the tenure of Stern, Silver’s predecessor.

“I called David today when I got the news the Nets had signed Jason, and I know David was thrilled and proud,” Silver said. “There’s no question that he created the environment over so many decades for a player like Jason Collins to feel comfortable coming out, and I’m equally proud of our teams, though, and particularly of the Nets.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Nets are coached by his former teammate [Jason Kidd], and someone who knows how valuable a player Jason can be, not only just on the court but in the locker room, as well.”

And while Silver said he looks forward to the day when it’s no longer news for a team to sign an openly gay player, he understands why Sunday’s announcement was such a big deal.

“I know it’s a big deal for Jason,” Silver said. “It is a big deal for this league, and hopefully, in the way that sports can uniquely impact society, that this is an area where, for the next Michael Sam, they feel that much more comfortable coming out. And, more importantly, the next high- school player feels comfortable being public about his or her sexuality with his or her teammates.”