Jason Collins, a longtime NBA player who became widely known in 2013 as the first openly gay active player in a major American sports league, died Tuesday.
He was 47.
Collins died after an eight-month battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma. This is an aggressive form of brain cancer.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted Collins’ impact on the sports world.
“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 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 leagues,” Silver continued.
Collins, a role-playing, stood at 7 feet when he came out of Stanford.
He averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds across 13 seasons for six different NBA franchises.
He was generally used in defensive and physical matchups.
In 2013, Collins came out in a first-person essay for Sports Illustrated. With this, he became the first active NBA player announce he was gay. He returned to play one final season with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014. He later served as an NBA Cares Ambassador.
Collins is survived by his husband, film producer Brunson Green: and his twin brother, Jarron.
