Jason Collins, Trailblazing NBA Player, Passes Away at 47
Jason Collins, a former professional basketball player and the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to publicly come out as gay, has died at the age of 47.
Collins succumbed to glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, after a courageous fight, according to a statement from his family shared by the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He had announced his diagnosis in the previous year and was undergoing treatment aimed at halting the progression of the inoperable tumor.
NBA Commissioner Honors Collins' Legacy
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins on Tuesday, emphasizing the player's profound impact beyond the basketball court.
"Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations," Silver said.
"Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others," he added.
Diagnosis and Personal Reflections
Collins revealed in December 2025 that his cancer was detected after he experienced difficulties with concentration.
He described the brain tumor as "a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain the width of a baseball."
Doctors informed him that without treatment, his prognosis was limited to three months.
When sharing his diagnosis publicly, Collins reflected on his decision to come out as gay in 2013 through a front-page Sports Illustrated cover story. He described the subsequent years as "the best of my 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. This is me. This is what I'm dealing with."
Treatment and Career Overview
Collins was receiving treatment with Avastin, a drug intended to slow tumor growth, and had traveled to Singapore for a specialized form of chemotherapy.
Born in California, he played for six NBA teams over 13 seasons before retiring in 2014. Collins had also been recognized on Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people.
His family released a statement on Tuesday highlighting his inspirational role.
"Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar," they said.
Coming Out and Historic NBA Milestone
In his 2013 Sports Illustrated essay, Collins began with the words:
"I'm a 34-year-old N.B.A. center. I'm Black and I'm gay."
At the time, Collins was a free agent, and it was uncertain whether his announcement would affect his NBA career.
Though significant progress had been made in the gay rights movement, same-sex marriage was not legalized throughout the United States until 2015.
Collins later rejoined the New Jersey Nets, the team where he began his career, becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the four major US professional sports leagues.
