Nov 21, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns former player Charles Barkley in attendance against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(New York, New York) – Charles Barkley is using Jason Collins’ legacy to make a larger point about sports and society.
Barkley said Collins should be remembered not only for his NBA career, but for the courage it took to live openly as a gay athlete in a world that still makes that difficult.
Collins became a historic figure when he came out publicly while still connected to professional basketball, forcing a major conversation inside the sports world. His story became about more than wins, stats or teams. It became about whether athletes could be honest about who they are without fear.
Barkley’s message was blunt: society still has a long way to go. He argued that gay athletes exist across professional sports, but many remain silent because of backlash, judgment and locker-room culture.
