Jason Collins, the retired longtime Nets center and first active openly gay athlete in major North American sports, says he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Collins, 41, believes he contracted the illness when he attended the Brooklyn Nets Pride Night game on March 4 and developed his first symptoms one week later.
Collins, who played eight of his 13 seasons in the NBA with the Nets, said he developed a “terrible headache,” fever and cough, and is currently self-quarantining at home.
“I went to the ER and got tested and spoke with some docs about the tightness in my chest. I’m home now resting but still experiencing some tightness and might go back to the hospital later today. On Saturday my lungs were clear, which obviously is good,” Collins tweeted Tuesday.
“Please stay safe and continue to social distance. Thank you to every single health care worker out there that are our true heroes on the frontline. Please let’s try to flatten the curve & not overwhelm our health care system.”
Four players on the Nets previously tested positive for COVID-19, including Kevin Durant.