Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, dies at 47

Former NBA player Jason Collins died at 47 after a prolonged battle with brain cancer, his family announced.

The family described his struggle with glioblastoma – an aggressive, inoperable form of brain cancer – as a “valiant fight.”

The BBC reported on Wednesday that the news was released through the National Basketball Association.

Collins disclosed in 2025 that he had been diagnosed after noticing problems with concentration. Subsequent scans revealed a rapidly spreading brain tumour, which he likened to “a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain.”

At the time of his diagnosis, he was receiving treatment aimed at slowing the disease’s progression, including targeted chemotherapy, the drug Avastin, and specialized care abroad.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver honored Collins, noting that his influence reached far 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.

Silver 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, is widely regarded as a landmark moment for LGBTQ visibility in sport.

At the time, Collins was a free agent, and there was uncertainty about 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 professional journey.

Across 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 earned respect as a steady presence in the locker room.

The Nets said they were “heartbroken” by his death, praising both his on‑court contributions and his broader 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 continued advocacy work for inclusion in sport and spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention alongside his twin brother and former NBA player Jarron Collins.

Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery described Collins as one of the university’s great players and called his passing a “sad day” for basketball.

Collins is remembered as a trailblazing athlete whose openness and courage helped reshape attitudes toward LGBTQ players in professional sports.