NBA veteran Jason Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets and made his debut this past weekend in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s a monumental step for Collins, who came out as gay last year and now becomes the first openly gay active player in the league’s history.

Collins spent the first seven years of his career with the team when it was based in New Jersey. It’s also fitting that he made his comeback in the league for a professional team in Brooklyn since Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers  six decades ago. Collins played 11 minutes and grabbed two rebounds for the defense-starved team. Under NBA contact rules, he can sign two consecutive 10-day contracts before the team either has to sign him to a season-long contract or let him walk. Either way, he’s already walked his way into history.