This weekend – after signing a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets – Jason Collins became the first openly gay player to play in an NBA game. While checking into his first NBA game in almost a year, Collins received a warm ovation from the Staples Center crowd.
Just a few days later, it appears that everyone wants a piece of Collins’ merchandise to commemorate the historic moment.
The N.B.A.’s senior vice president for licensing and business affairs called the inquiries about Collins’ merchandise over the past few days “unprecedented” and, as a result, the league will begin selling Jason’s jersey.
Collins had to wear an emergency No.46 jersey in his game with Brooklyn, but his jersey number of choice will be No.98 -to honor Matthew Shepard, a gay college student from Wyoming who was murdered in 1998 – moving forward.
Thanks to hundreds of inquiries, those No.98 jerseys are now available at NBAStore.com and the NBA Store in Manhattan.
