Jason Collins signed by Brooklyn Nets for remainder of NBA season

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

After completing two 10-day contracts with new team the Brooklyn Nets, openly gay NBA star Jason Collins has now been signed for the remainder of the season.

Collins, who came out as gay last April, signed a 10-day deal late last month with the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the first active, openly-gay player in one of the four major league professional sports in the US.

On signing the contract, he became the first openly-gay player in a major US team sport to come out as gay and continue playing. He ten days later signed another contract, but is now with the team on a longer-term basis.

At the weekend, Nets General Manager Billy King announced that Collins would remain with the team for the rest of the season.

In an April 2013 interview with Sports Illustrated, Collins said: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

Following his decision to wear the number 98 shirt for his new team in commemoration of murdered gay teenager Matthew Shepard, the item soared to the top of online sales on the NBA’s online store earlier this month.