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Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who pioneered inclusion and became an ambassador for the league, has died at age 47 of brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday.
Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came late in his playing career.
Collins was diagnosed last year with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer with an extremely low survival rate.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to those who knew him and those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA.
“We are grateful for the love and prayers over the past eight months and the exceptional care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him greatly.”
Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit last week. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jaron Collins, took over for him.
“I told my brother this before I got here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I know,” Jaron Collins said while accepting the award.
Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach two NBA Finals and averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in his best season in 2004-05.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement: “Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and the greater sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.
“He has exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares ambassador.
“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.
“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our league.”
