As we reported on Friday, the Brooklyn Nets are considering signing Jason Collins to give the Nets some depth down low. Collins of course would then become the first openly gay athlete in NBA history.
Nets players were asked about the potential addition of Collins to their locker room, and point guard Deron Williams admitted that the signing of Collins could create quite the media circus. according toRod Boone of Newsday.
“We would accept it greatly and it shouldn’t be a problem, man,” Joe Johnson said Friday as the Nets (25-27) prepared to take on the Warriors (33-22) Saturday night. “We’ve got a veteran group and I think everybody is pretty comfortable in their own skin. It’s about what he can do to help us out there on that court. That’s what it’s about.” …
“I think it’s definitely going to be a media circus just because of the situation,” Williams said. “It’d be a historic day and so we definitely have to deal with that. But I think with the type of team that we have, veterans who have played with him before and know him, it shouldn’t be a problem.” …
“It’s not him being a distraction,” Williams said. “It’s just the media coming along with it, because every city you go to, it’s not just like you answer a question once and then it’s over with. It’s a recurring thing. But like I said, I don’t think it would be a problem for us.”
Collins is a marginal player now at best, so most of the attention would be off the court, lockerroom banter.