Former NBA player Jason Collins has died at age 47 after a battle with cancer, his family said Tuesday.
Collins revealed in September that he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor and later revealed that he has stage four glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has passed away after a courageous battle with glioblastoma,” the family said in a statement.
Collins made history in 2013 when he became the first active male athlete in one of the four major North American professional sports leagues to publicly come out as gay.
The center played 13 seasons in the NBA. He was selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 draft before being traded to the then New Jersey Nets on draft night. He also had stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.
Collins helped the Nets back to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 along with teammates Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson.
After coming out as gay in a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated, Collins received widespread support throughout the sports world, including from then-US President Barack Obama.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and those who admired him from afar,” his family said. “He will be greatly missed by our family.
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Published on:
May 13, 2026 05:07 IST
