Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, has died at the age of 47. His family confirmed that the former centre passed away after an eight-month fight with an aggressive brain tumour.
Collins made NBA history in 2013
Collins became a landmark figure in American sport in 2013, when he publicly revealed he was gay in a first-person article for Sports Illustrated. At the time, he was a free agent and still wanted to continue his playing career.
He wrote then that he would have preferred if someone else had already taken that step, but since nobody had, he was choosing to do it himself.
Collins later played 22 games for Brooklyn the following season, becoming the first openly gay athlete to appear in one of the major US men’s professional leagues.
Family and NBA remember his impact
His family said Collins changed lives in ways many people did not expect and became an inspiration both to those who knew him and those who admired him from afar. They also thanked supporters for their love during the past eight months and praised the doctors and nurses who treated him.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’ influence went far beyond basketball. He credited him with helping the NBA, WNBA and wider sports community become more welcoming for future generations.
Silver also remembered Collins for his leadership, professionalism, work as an NBA Cares Ambassador and the kindness that shaped his life.
A 13-season career across six teams
Collins played 13 NBA seasons for six franchises. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but his value was never measured only by statistics.
He helped the New Jersey Nets reach two NBA Finals and had his best scoring and rebounding season in 2004-05, when he averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Before entering the NBA, Collins starred at Stanford. He still holds the school record for career field goal percentage at nearly 61 percent and was an honourable mention All-America selection in 2001.
Tributes also came from Stanford
Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery called Collins one of the programme’s greats and said his death was a sad day for everyone connected to Stanford basketball.
Montgomery praised Collins as big, smart, strong and skilled, while also describing him as bright and kind. He also noted the close bond between Jason and his twin brother Jarron, while stressing that Jason had his own distinct identity.
Just last week, Collins received the first Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend, so Jarron accepted it on his behalf and called his brother the bravest and strongest man he had ever known.
