Jason Collins signs with Nets, will be first openly gay player in one of the four ...

TAMI CHAPPELL/Reuters

Jason Collins, who last plays for the Celtics and Wizards last season, comes out as gay in a Sports Illustrated essay last spring.

LOS ANGELES - It's the 10-day contract that broke down a barrier.

The Nets officially signed Jason Collins to the historic deal on Sunday afternoon, fitted him in a No. 98 Brooklyn uniform for Sunday night's game against the Lakers, and thus gave him the opportunity to become the first openly gay athlete in America's four main professional sports leagues.

'The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision,' GM Billy King said in a statement, clearly trying to address criticisms that the signing was a marketing ploy. 'We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract.'

RT to welcome @jasoncollins34 to Brooklyn! #Nets http://ift.tt/1enqwXL

- Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 23, 2014

Collins had worked out with the Nets earlier in the week, leaving the impression that he's in shape and ready for another shot at the NBA. The 35-year-old hasn't played since last April with the Wizards, which was before he revealed his sexuality in a Sports Illustrated article last year.

Collins has a comfortable landing spot with the Nets, with a friend and former teammate as a coach in Jason Kidd, and a veteran group who have all publicly supported the move.

'We'll welcome him with open arms,' Joe Johnson said after the rumors surfaced last week. 'Everybody here is comfortable in their own skin.'

Collins was Brooklyn's second choice to fill its glaring frontcourt hole, behind Glen 'Big Baby' Davis. But Davis instead chose to sign with Doc Rivers and the Clippers, so the Nets moved quickly Sunday to secure Collins' signature.

The Nets tweeted out a photo of Collins signing the contract, with Kidd looking over his shoulder. When Collins' deal expires next week, the Nets can offer him another 10-day contract before they have to decide whether to cut ties or keep him for the season. Since the Nets are in the midst of a six-game road trip, Collins isn't scheduled to make his home debut until March 3 against the Bulls.

The 12-year veteran played seven seasons with the New Jersey Nets and reached back-to-back finals with Kidd as the star point guard.

'Jason (Collins) told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal,' NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. 'I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment.'

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's publicist did not respond to a request for comment, but the billionaire - who is also a politician and ran for president of Russia - has campaigned for gay rights in his country, challenging Vladimir Putin's controversial policies.

'It is a personal affair who has sex with whom,' Prokhorov said last year.

Collins becomes the first openly gay athlete in either the NBA, NFL or MLB. But MLS player Robbie Rogers came out last year before playing 11 games with the LA Galaxy. Earlier this month, Michael Sam, who is expected to be selected in the NFL draft this year, announced that he was gay shortly after NCAA career finished at Missouri.