NBA

Nets bench-warmer named one of world’s 100 most influential

Jason Collins found out about his place on Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people the same time everyone else did — when the list was announced Thursday morning.

Collins’ friend and Stanford classmate Chelsea Clinton wrote the essay about Collins for the magazine, but she managed to keep it a secret from the Nets backup center until the list was announced.

“It’s a really prestigious honor,” Collins said following Thursday’s practice. “I’m really thankful to the people at Time for putting me on the list.”

Collins admitted that having Clinton write his essay made the occasion even more meaningful.

“It was really cool,” he said with a laugh. “I texted her this morning, and because obviously we talk every now and then, and was like, ‘How did you?’ … She kept it a secret from me.

“Her words were very touching, and like I said, she’s a good friend. Before about a year ago, before all of this broke, I called her and asked for her advice on how to live your life in the public eye, and her words were a great piece of advice.”

Collins became a public figure last year when he came out as gay in an article in Sports Illustrated. He became the first openly gay active athlete in the four major American professional sports when the Nets signed him in February.

“This is a credit to the entire Nets organization,” Collins said. “Like I said, I didn’t get on this list by myself. The Nets organization, coaching staff, my teammates are a huge part of why I am where I am, for being a member of this team and I’m thankful for being so great.”

Several athletes have followed in Collins’ footsteps, including Missouri defensive end Michael Sam — a potential NFL Draft pick next month — and Massachusetts guard Derrick Gordon, both of whom credited Collins with giving them the confidence to come out publicly.

“I know I’m not just doing this by myself,” he said. “There have been a lot of people who have helped me get to where I am, a lot of people who have made the path easier for me, and that’s the one thing I hope I’m doing for other people is making it easier for them to live their authentic life.”

Collins was also asked whether he felt as if he had an advantage over owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who despite his massive fortune isn’t on the list.

“No,” he chuckled. “It’s never a competition like that. It’s an honor to be named.”

Nets coach Jason Kidd, who pushed for the team to sign Collins when they needed a big man, was happy for his longtime teammate and friend.

“Just happy to know one of [the most influential people],” he said with a smile. “That’s awesome. It’s a great honor.

“[Between] his basketball talent, his personality … if it wasn’t us, it was going to be someone else [who signed him]. So, again, we’re happy to have him on board.”

Collins was also appointed to the the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, as was 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Alonzo Mourning.


Shaun Livingston (illness) sat out of Thursday’s practice, but Kidd said the starting guard wasn’t in any danger of missing Game 3 on Friday.

“He’ll be ready to go,” Kidd said.