Former NBA player Jason Collins has died at the age of 47 following a battle with brain cancer, his family has announced.
Collins passed away after what his family described as a “valiant fight” with glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer.
As reported by the BBC on Wednesday, the announcement was shared through the National Basketball Association.
He revealed in 2025 that he had been diagnosed with the disease after experiencing difficulties with concentration. Doctors later confirmed the presence of a rapidly spreading brain tumour, which he described as “a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain.”
At the time of his diagnosis, Collins said he was undergoing treatment to slow the progression of the illness, including targeted chemotherapy and medication such as Avastin, as well as specialist treatment abroad.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, saying his influence extended far beyond basketball.
“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.
He added that Collins would be remembered not only for breaking barriers but also for his kindness and humanity.
Collins made history in 2013 when he became the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to publicly come out as gay.
His announcement, published in Sports Illustrated, was widely regarded as a landmark moment for LGBTQ visibility in sport.
At the time, Collins was a free agent, and it was unclear whether his decision would end his NBA career. He later returned to the league, rejoining the Brooklyn Nets, the team with which he began his career.
Over a 13-season NBA career, Collins played for six teams, including the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics. Known for his defensive role at center, he was respected as a steady presence in the locker room.
The Nets said they were “heartbroken” by his death, praising both his contributions on the court and his wider impact on the sport.
“Those who were around Jason every day knew him not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person,” the team said. “His courage and authenticity helped move the game—and the world—forward.”
After retiring in 2014, Collins was named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people. He later continued advocacy work for inclusion in sport and spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention alongside his twin brother and fellow former NBA player Jarron Collins.
Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery described Collins as one of the university’s great players and said his passing marked a “sad day” for basketball.
Collins is being remembered as a trailblazing athlete whose openness and courage helped reshape attitudes toward LGBTQ players in professional sports.
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