Jul 28, 2016 04:00 AM EDT
Hillary Clinton Helped Former NBA Player Jason Collins Come Out As Gay

Jason Collins, a former NBA player, said in a Democratic National Convention speech that Hillary Clinton helped him come out. He is also thankful for the whole Clinton Family which he said accepted him and his sexual orientation when he came out in 2013.

Jason Collins was drafted 2001 by the Houston Rockets and was traded to the Nets where he spent most of his playing career. He also played to a number of NBA teams namely: Memphis Grizzlies (2008), Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-2009), Atlanta Hawks (2009-2012), Boston Celtics (2012-2013), Washington Wizards (2013) and the Brooklyn Nets (2014).

During his freshman year, Collins played a significant role during the NBA Finals stint by the New Jersey Nets in 2002. He averaged 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game his entire stay with the Nets.

Hillary Clinton dubbed him as "a leader and an inspiration" after Collins came out as gay on a Sports Illustrated Cover in 2013 - making him the First NBA player to publicly come out.

"I am forever grateful for their words of wisdom and their unconditional support," Collins said in a message of support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Jason knew the Clinton family through Chelsea Clinton. Chelsea and Jason are batch mates at Stanford University.

"They knew my sexual orientation made no difference in my ability to play basketball," he added.

Along with him, Golden State Warriors Assistant Coach Jarron Collins, Jason's twin brother, also expressed his support for Clinton and warns in the advent of a Trump presidency.

"How do you tell your kids not to be a bully if their president is one? How do you tell your kids to respect your heritage - my wife is Mexican-American - if their president disparages it? How do you tell your daughters they are empowered if their president reduces women to their physical appearance?" Jarron asked.

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