Updated

The advice John Amaechi gave to Jason Collins before the NBA veteran came out is very different to what he tells the gay soccer players he knows in England's Premier League.

Amaechi became the first openly gay former NBA player in 2007, three years after retiring. In the month before his public announcement on Monday, Collins spoke to him about his decision.

Amaechi told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday: "The NBA is light years ahead of football. There is no doubt about that."