Jason Collins, the groundbreaking NBA veteran who became the first openly gay active player in major professional sports, has passed away at 47 following a battle with brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday.
In September, Collins shared that he was receiving treatment for a brain tumor, later revealing he had been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” his family stated.
Collins broke barriers in 2013 when he became the first active male professional athlete in North America’s major sports leagues to publicly announce he was gay.
The center spent 13 years in the NBA after being drafted 18th overall by Houston in 2001, though he was immediately traded to what was then the New Jersey Nets. Throughout his career, he also played for Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston and Washington.
Collins was part of the Nets teams that advanced to consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, playing alongside stars Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson.
His announcement came through a personal essay published in Sports Illustrated, which generated overwhelming support throughout the sports community, including praise from then-President Barack Obama.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his family shared. “Our family will miss him dearly.”
