Jason Collins has said that the support he has received since returning to the NBA last week has been "overwhelming".

The center signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, making him the first openly gay athlete to play in one of the four major North American sports leagues.

The 35-year-old told NBA.com: "As far as people who have my number, the support has been overwhelming.

"I'm just trying to prioritise things. Basketball right now is a priority. Again, it's about the plays, our calls, trying to get comfortable with just what it is the Brooklyn Nets do on both ends of the court.

"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. There's a lot in life you can worry about. That's not one of them."

Collins, who came out at the end of the 2012-13 NBA season, has been a free agent since coming to the end of his deal with the Washington Wizards last summer.