The Brooklyn Nets jersey of Jason Collins, No. 98, hangs in the visitors' locker room at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Collins will wear the Brooklyn No. 98 jersey for the first time in a few hours on Wednesday, when the Nets play the

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Collins became the first active athlete from a major sports league in this country to announce that he was gay. The statement came in an article he wrote for Sports Illustrated after the conclusion of last season. This season began with Collins unsigned.

Last Sunday Collins played for the first time since his announcement, after signing a 10 day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets had only a jersey with No. 46 that Collins could wear in his first game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

"I’m happy for Jason the man," Blazers head coach Terry Stotts before Portland's game against the Nets Wednesday. "I think he’s conducted himself extremely well throughout his career. He’s been in the league for a long time because he’s been a good teammate, he’s been a good player on the court, franchises have valued him wherever he’s been. I think it speaks much more about Jason as who he’s been throughout his life, and who he is as a man."

The number 98 is worn in honor of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay college student who was murdered in a Wyoming hate crime in 1998. Collins wore No. 98 when he played for the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics 2012 and 2013.

During an interview with FOXSports.com the day Collins made his announcement, Shepard's mother Judy said, "It made me cry," adding, "It was really quite a tribute, and I was very honored. And I know Matt would be thrilled.”

On Thursday, Judy Shepard, her husband Dennis, and Matthew’s brother will travel several hours from their home in Wyoming to Denver, where the Nuggets will host the Brooklyn Nets.

The Brooklyn No. 98 jersey is the hottest selling jersey on NBA.com, even before Collins wore one himself.