Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player and a true pioneer in professional sports, has passed away at the age of 47 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. His family confirmed the heartbreaking news on Tuesday, sharing that Collins died peacefully at his home in Florida, surrounded by loved ones.
"We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma," the family said in a statement released through the NBA. "Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar."
The former center, who played for teams including the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Atlanta Hawks over a 13-year NBA career, first revealed his diagnosis last December in a powerful essay for ESPN. He shared that he was facing Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, and warned that without treatment, the disease could take his life within weeks. But true to his resilient spirit, Collins declared he was "going to fight it."
In a testament to his determination, Collins traveled to Singapore over the winter for experimental treatments not yet authorized in the United States. He rallied enough to attend NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles and even made it to a game at Stanford University, his alma mater. However, the cancer recently returned, and Collins ultimately lost his battle.
Just last week, Collins was too ill to attend an award ceremony in Cleveland, where he was honored with 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. "I told my brother this before I came here: He's the bravest, strongest man I've ever known," Jarron said at the event.
Collins made history in 2013 when he publicly came out as gay, becoming not only the first NBA player to do so but also the first active athlete in any of North America's four major professional sports leagues. His courage paved the way for greater inclusion in sports, and his legacy as a trailblazer will forever be remembered by fans, teammates, and the entire basketball community.