Culture Change Begins in the Locker Room: The Legacy of Jason Collins

Jason Collins broke barriers as the NBA's first openly gay player, but 13 years after his coming out, not one active player has followed his lead. As tributes pour in following Collins' passing, one question lingers: why has a league that celebrates Pride Month and punishes homophobic slurs failed to create a culture where gay players feel safe enough to be themselves? The answer reveals the gap between the NBA's progressive public image and the hyper-masculine locker room culture that still keeps "the last closet" door firmly shut.