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 historic 2013 coming-out, not a single active player has followed his lead. As tributes pour in following Collins' passing, one uncomfortable 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 stubborn gap between the NBA's progressive public image and the hyper-masculine locker room culture that still keeps "the last closet" door firmly shut.