Former National Basketball Association player Jason Collins has died at the age of 47 following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer.
His family confirmed his death in a statement shared through the National Basketball Association, describing his struggle with the disease as a “valiant fight.”
Collins revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer after experiencing difficulties with concentration. Doctors later discovered a rapidly spreading tumour, which he once described as “a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain.”
The former centre underwent targeted chemotherapy, treatment with the drug Avastin, and specialist medical care abroad in an effort to slow the progression of the illness.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, saying his influence reached 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 in sport 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 representation in professional sport.
At the time, questions remained over whether the announcement would affect his career, as Collins was a free agent. He later returned to the league with the Brooklyn Nets, the franchise where he began his NBA journey.
During a 13-season career, Collins played for six NBA teams, including the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. Known for his defensive abilities and leadership, he earned a reputation as a respected locker-room presence.
The Nets said they were “heartbroken” by his death and praised both his contributions to basketball and his wider social impact.
“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.”
Following his retirement, Collins was named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and continued advocacy work promoting inclusion in sports.
Former Stanford University coach Mike Montgomery described Collins as one of the institution’s greatest players, calling his death “a sad day” for basketball.
Collins is being remembered as a trailblazing athlete whose courage and openness helped reshape attitudes towards LGBTQ athletes in professional sports.
