In 1995 while at the peak of his playing career, Ian Roberts became the first high-profile Australian sports person and first rugby footballer in the world to come out to the public as gay. John Amaechi, who played in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers (as well as internationally with Panathinaikos BC of the Greek Basketball League and Kinder Bologna of the Italian Basketball League), came out in February 2007 on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" program. He also released a book "Man in the Middle", published by ESPN Books () which talks about his professional and personal life as a closeted basketball player. He was the first NBA player (former or current) to come out.