It’s been an outpouring of support for Jason Collins after he announced to the world he is gay on Monday morning.

Sure, Collins has gotten nothing but love from the likes of Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant, but I’m sure everyone is wondering what LeBron James has to say about this issue. In this type of situation where LeBron is the unquestioned #1 player and the face of the league, saying nothing is nearly-synonymous as saying something negative.

On Tuesday, LeBron finally opened up about Collins, saying:

“None of us should go around wondering about what other people think we should be. I think it’s very strong of (Collins). I’ve got the utmost respect for Jason. If you can play the game, then that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”

A much more thoughtful spin than when he was asked about John Amaechi back in 2007 when the retired English center came out. Here’s what LeBron had to say then:

“With teammates, you have to be trustworthy. If you’re gay and you’re not admitting that you are, you’re not trustworthy. It’s the locker room code; it’s a trust factor.”

Do you think LeBron’s statements Tuesday are any different than in 2007? Are they any different in their intent, is he more media-savvy, or has he come around on the issue of a gay athlete in the NBA?