Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history and a pioneer for inclusion in sports, has died at age 47 after an eight-month battle with glioblastoma. According to multiple reports, Collins passed away following a valiant fight against the aggressive form of brain cancer.
Key Takeaways
Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, has died at age 47 after an eight-month battle with glioblastoma. He was a pioneer for inclusion in sports and played 13 seasons in the league.
- Jason Collins dies aged 47 from brain cancer
- First active male athlete in major North American team sport to come out as gay
- Played 13 seasons in NBA, including two stints with Nets
- Diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma last December
Collins announced his diagnosis last December, revealing that he had been undergoing treatment to stop the spread of the inoperable disease. He was first diagnosed after struggling to focus and discovered a brain tumor described as "a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain." Without treatment, doctors told him he would be dead within three months.
Collins' impact extended far beyond his basketball career, which spanned 13 seasons playing for six different franchises. He revealed in a first-person account for Sports Illustrated in April 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career. His decision to come out publicly was widely lauded and supported by star players such as Kobe Bryant, the White House, and former President Bill Clinton.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Collins for making the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations. "Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others," Silver said in a statement according to multiple sources.
Collins' family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care he received. Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. His twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted the award on his behalf.
Tributes poured in from around basketball and beyond. The Human Rights Campaign released a statement saying that Collins' courage changed the conversation about LGBTQ+ rights in sports. "He was and will always be a legend for the LGBTQ+ community," the organization said according to HuffPost. Dallas coach Jason Kidd, a former teammate and coach of Collins, wrote on X, "Jason Collins was a pioneer. He had courage like you’ve never seen."
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