Jason Collins, first openly gay active NBA player, dies after cancer battle | Basketball News
Jason Collins, Former NBA Player and LGBTQ+ Advocate, Dies at 47
Jason Collins, the first openly gay active player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), passed away at the age of 47 following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Collins’ family announced his death in a statement released on Tuesday: “We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma.”
In September, Collins revealed that he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, later disclosing that it was stage four glioblastoma.
Standing at 213 centimeters (7 feet), Collins was drafted 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft before being traded to the New Jersey Nets. Over the course of his 13-season career, he also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards.
Collins helped lead the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 alongside teammates Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. His groundbreaking decision to come out publicly in a 2013 Sports Illustrated essay made headlines and garnered widespread support from across the sports community, including 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 stated. “Our family will miss him dearly.”
Arn Tellem, Collins’ former agent and current vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons, reflected on Collins’ legacy, emphasizing his impact on social change. “Jason’s legacy stands as a beacon for tolerance, dignity, respect, inclusion, compassion, and understanding,” Tellem said. “He left this world better than he found it.”
Collins is remembered not only for his accomplishments on the court but also for his courage in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, paving the way for future generations of athletes.
