12-year NBA veteran Jason Collins has come out as the first gay athlete in a major American team sport. Colllins, currently a free agent, won two high-school state championships, played in one NCAA final four, and two NBA finals. The 7'0, 255 pound big man is currently a free agent, but spent time last year on the Nets and Wizards.

Franz Lidz of Sports Illustrated has co-written Collins' story for the sports magazine.

It's a great read, and one paragraph that caught my eye was Collins' perspective on coming out now, as opposed to a decade ago.

I'm glad I'm coming out in 2013 rather than 2003. The climate has shifted; public opinion has shifted. And yet we still have so much farther to go. Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most of us don't want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against.

cnnsi.com- why jason collins is coming out now

Collins also discusses growing up in a Christian family, how fans will react, and why old teammates of his may be surprised.

Click here to read the full piece.