Get Real: Jason Collins Isn't A Free Agent Because of His Sexuality
As we all know, on April 13, NBA supers...player Jason Collins came out as an openly gay individual. This was said to be revolutionary since he is the first openly gay ACTIVE NBA player. However, since coming out, he has yet to see the paint on the walls of an NBA locker room. As a result, gay rights advocates, among others, are making the case that he is deliberately discriminated against because of the fact that he is indeed gay. Now, as much sense as that makes, that couldn't be any further from the truth. Let's be realistic here.
Looking at Jason's stats (which can be viewed in full here), I would "discriminate" against him, too. If Superman himself was fresh off of a 1.1 PPG season in 2012-2013, I'm not picking him up either. Jason Collins literally averaged one free throw per game this year (plus an extra tenth of a point). I don't know about you, but that's a waste of cap space, and a spot on my bench. Collins also, as a Center, averaged only 1.6 rebounds per game...with a 3.01 PER (Player Efficiency Rating). Don't even try to convince me that you would sign him to your team. Just don't. Of course there are other intangibles, but we can get those from better players than can produce more.
However, let us not be so negative here. Let's look at the positive. Although the 12 year veteran only averaged 1.1 PPG last year, he averaged a little over THREE TIMES THAT over the course of his career! That's right! On his career, he averages a total of 3.6 points. He also averages 3.8 rebounds. With that, he technically averaged about triple the amount of points and rebounds that he racked up last year. Hmmm, don't we all have some reconsidering to do?
Despite my sarcasm in the last paragraph, I do not write this article to disrespect Jason Collins, but to say that his sexuality is not the only variable in his free agency. Collins' contract is also $1.4 million. Although that is cheap for a player his age, it is far more beneficial to sign a younger player for a cheaper price. That is also something to take into account.
All in all, Jason Collins remains a free agent...and will probably remain one. On December 2, he will be 35 years old, making him the same age as a far more productive Kobe Bryant. Without a doubt, the career of Jason Collins is coming to an end. He still has a desire to play, but it is in question whether or not his skills will permit that. Whatever the case may be, the career of Jason Collins has been on roller coaster ride. Stay up, breh breh.
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--@CjayTheGreat
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