By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jason Collins, a 13-year NBA veteran who was the first active, openly gay player in major North American team sports, has died at the age of 47 following a battle with stage 4 glioblastoma. His family confirmed his passing, stating that Collins died at home surrounded by loved ones after a valiant eight-month fight against the aggressive, unresectable brain cancer.
Following his diagnosis, Collins openly discussed his battle with the deadly illness, traveling as far as Singapore to undergo experimental treatments in hopes of advancing personalized immunotherapy. He ultimately returned home to spend his remaining time with his family. The pioneering athlete is survived by his husband, Brunson, his parents, and his twin brother, Jaron, who also played in the NBA.
Collins originally entered the NBA in 2001 as the 18th overall draft pick out of Stanford. Over his career in the league based in North America, he made 735 regular-season and 95 playoff appearances, playing for the New Jersey and Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards. He was highly regarded for his veteran leadership on the court, later continuing his relationship with the league as an NBA Cares Ambassador.
Beyond his traditional basketball statistics, Collins left an indelible mark on global sports culture in 2013 when he publicly came out, breaking significant barriers across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. Reflecting on his decision, Collins noted that he simply wanted to put his cards on the table, represent those who felt different, and start a crucial conversation about league-wide inclusion.