Gay in the NBA: British NBA Star Says It’s Time to Come Clean About Xenophobia
Mar 23rd, 2025 by Jessica Gold Haralson
Former British NBA Star John Amaechi welcomes the controversy that his revelations have made in the world of Basketball.
Last month Amaechi made history by becoming the first NBA player to openly identify himself as gay.
The former Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz Center comes out in his autobiography “Man In the Middle” and is happy for the subject of homosexuality in top flight sport to be discussed.
He told the Voice of Sport: “The book has provoked a debate and the reaction has been positive in most quarters.
“But there has been silence from the league in terms of other players, I’m trying to open up a conversation here, broaden peoples horizons and open their minds and I feel I have the track record to do that.”
Although sporting stars such as Martina Navratilova and former teammate Grant Hill have publicly stated their support for Amaechi, he firmly believes there is a long way to go.
“It’s not fair for me to insist that every person who thought I was a decent bloke in the NBA is going to stand up and be a militant straight ally.
“I would like that to happen, that would be a sign of real change in society, but it clearly shows us where we are”.
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