Doc Rivers "happy and proud" of Jason Collins

Doc has always been extremely supportive of Jason Collins. On several occasions he referred to him as a great locker room presence and he even put him in the starting lineup at one point.

It's possible that Doc already knew the news we all learned about Collins today. Either way, he certainly liked what he brought to the locker room and somehow he might have also been possibly impressed with him on the court. Collins sure could foul.

Those two factors weren't enough to keep Collins in green the whole year, but the team did try. As we wrote on months ago, the trade was originally supposed to send Chris Wilcox to Washington instead of Collins.

Here's what Doc had to say about Collins' announcement in a statement released by the Celtics.

Celtics:

"I am extremely happy and proud of Jason Collins. He’s a pro’s pro. He is the consummate professional and he is one of my favorite “team” players I have ever coached. If you have learned anything from Jackie Robinson, it is that teammates are always the first to accept. It will be society who has to learn tolerance. One of my favorite sayings is, 'I am who I am, are whom we are, can be what I want to be its not up to you, it’s just me being me.'"