Jason Collins, a 13-year NBA veteran known for his defensive grit and leadership, has died at 47.
The former center passed away following a valiant fight with glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer.
Collins disclosed his diagnosis last year after experiencing difficulty concentrating.
He described the tumor as a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of his brain. Despite undergoing various treatments, including targeted chemotherapy in Singapore, the disease proved terminal.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Collins on Tuesday, stating that his influence reached far beyond the court.
Silver noted that Jason helped make the sports community more inclusive for future generations.
“Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life,” Silver said.
The Brooklyn Nets expressed heartbreak over the news, recalling Collins' eight seasons with the franchise.
He played a vital role on the teams that won back-to-back Eastern Conference championships in 2002 and 2003.
Reflecting on his illness, Collins previously said the struggle reminded him of his landmark 2013 decision to come out as gay in Sports Illustrated.
At the time, he was the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to do so. He maintained that the years following that announcement were the best of his life.
“Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self, unafraid to be your true self, in public or private,” Collins said. “This is me. This is what I'm dealing with.”
A California native and Stanford University standout, Collins played for six teams during his career.
By returning to the court with the Nets after his announcement, he became the first openly gay athlete to compete in any of the four major US professional leagues.
He famously began his 2013 essay by stating he was a 34-year-old NBA center who was both Black and gay.
The moment remains a defining point in sports history, cementing his legacy as a pioneer for inclusion.