What It Meant to Be Gay in the NBA

Feb. 16, 2007 — -- After spending five seasons as a professional basketball player, John Amaechi finds it "astonishing" that anyone would be surprised by the anti-gay remarks made by his former NBA colleague Tim Hardaway.

"I'm not surprised. To me, it's astonishing that anybody would be surprised to hear them," Amaechi told ABC News' John Berman.

At least one NBA player, however, has come out in defense of gay teammates.

When asked about having a gay player on his team, Miami Heat player Shaquille O'Neal said, "if he was on my team, I guess I would have to protect him ... I guess I'm not the type of person who judges someone."

Today on "Good Morning America," Amaechi said O'Neal's comments were "enlightening and heartwarming."

"It put a smile on my face," Amaechi said.

Not everyone has been so accepting. Amaechi said he's received many negative e-mails.

"Since Tim's comments, the number of vitriolic and hate-filled e-mails has increased," he said. "They don't have a complaint, they just want me to know I am hated."

With the publication of his memoir, "Man in the Middle," Amaechi last week publicly revealed that he was gay.

Responding to Amaechi's revelation, Hardaway said in a radio interview Wednesday, "I let it be known I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people."

The retired Miami Heat star has since issued a statement of apology to "anyone I have offended," but Amaechi believes the initial remarks have had an impact and "emboldens the bigots."

"It has made it tangibly less safe for gays and lesbians throughout the country, because he has polluted the atmosphere with hatred," Amaechi said.

Amaechi, who grew up in England, said in his book that he knew he was gay when he was 9 years old, but couldn't even admit it to himself until he was in his 20s.

And he never let his teammates know he was gay. No active NBA player has ever said they were gay. Amaechi said when he was in the league, it did not seem like a welcome announcement.