NBA commissioner: Jason Collins unsigned because of basketball decisions

Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons. (Kwaku Alston/Sports Illustrated)

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says veteran center Jason Collins' sexual orientation is not why he has yet to be signed by a team.

Collins, 35, came out in a Sports Illustrated article last April and has not been able to secure an NBA contract.

Missouri All-America defensive end Michael Sam publicly came out as a gay man last night, which brought Collins' name back in the spotlight.

"In terms of Jason not getting signed, based on everything I've been told, it's a basketball decision," Silver said, via ESPN.com. "Our teams want to win and Jason waited until the very tail end of his career to make that announcement."

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Collins, who played for the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards in 2012-2013, averaged one point and 1.5 rebounds per game.

"We want teams to make the best possible decisions from [a] basketball standpoint," Silver said. "Ultimately that's what it's all about. I'm sure Jason was never looking for a special favor or a special slot because he had publicly come out."