Lance Bass Advises Jason Collins on Coming Out as Gay [LISTEN]: Former NSYNC Singer Says NBA Star was 'Scared, Planning This for a Very Long Time'

In a recent "Sports Illustrated" exclusive report, NBA superstar Jason Collins announced his coming out as a proud 34-year-old "black and gay" man. Fans, celebrities, and fellow athletes immediately responded, most offering their love and support. One of the celebs Collins sought advice from during his big announcement was former NYSNC pop star, Lance Bass (who came out as gay back in 2006). In a recent episode of Bass' SiriusXM radio show "Dirty Pop with Lance Bass," the 33-year-old singer revealed that Collins "had been trying to plan this [announcement] for a very long time," but was initially scared to confront Bass for any advice. Listen to the radio clip below, where Bass explains that two US presidents and Oprah Winfrey even offered Collins their support following his public coming out announcement!

Collins, currently a center for NBA's Washington Wizards, wrote this about his coming out:

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

I've played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.

Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

To read the full open letter, go to SI.com.

As the SI issue hit newsstands, Collins apparently called Bass after actress Joanna Garcia (a mutal friend) told him to do so. In the Monday (April 29) edition of "Dirty Pop with Lance Bass," the former boy band crooner explained:

"He's been trying to plan this for a very long time, contemplating if he wanted to do this... In fact, he said he was going to call me months ago but was too scared, because he wanted to tell me."

He continued with offering this sound advice:

"I told him, 'Look, this is what I wish would have happened when I came out...because when I came out I had 24 hours to decide what was going to happen, because basically [People] magazine said, 'We're doing it with or without you'... what I wish I could have done back then was to have a couple days to sit down with HRC... get downloaded [on the situation]."

(Bass came out as gay in a cover story for People magazine on July 26, 2006).

Check out the clip where Bass talks about Collins' coming out below... apparently two presidents and Oprah Winfrey personally called the popular b-baller to offer their wholehearted support!