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Piece Of History: Jason Collins Has NBA's Top-Selling Jersey

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Jason Collins is the biggest story in the NBA -- and at the moment he also has the hottest-selling jersey.

Collins' No. 98 jersey rocketed to No. 1 in sales on the league's official website on its first day available for purchase, NBA senior vice president Vicky Picca said Tuesday.

"Jason Collins' return to the league represents a historic moment, and fans continue to show their support by (buying) Jason's jersey," Picca said, according to CNN.

The Brooklyn Nets signed the 7-foot veteran to a 10-day contract on Sunday. He made his season debut later that night in Los Angeles against the Lakers, making him the first openly gay active player in the four major American professional leagues.

Collins wore No. 46 on Sunday but is expected to go with No. 98 when the Nets take on the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

He started wearing the number in 2012-13 as a tribute to gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was tortured and killed in 1998.

Collins, 35, announced last April that he is gay.

"There's only so many ways you can talk about the off-court stuff until really the focus is on basketball and how the team is doing," Collins said Tuesday.

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