“When I came into the NBA from Stanford, I had already decided what type of player I would be. I wanted to be the best player and teammate I could be, but not attract too much attention or make too much noise. I didn't want people to start asking questions about my personal life.”

American professional basketball player

Jason Paul Collins is an American former professional basketball player, known for his 13 seasons as an NBA center. He played college basketball at Stanford and was named a third-team All-American in 2001. Selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA draft, Collins went on to play for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets. His career was built around the center position, with Stanford and the NBA marking the main stages of his playing years.