Former NBA player Jason Collins, who made history as the first openly gay active athlete in a major American professional sports league, has died at the age of 47 after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
His family confirmed on Tuesday that Collins died following what they described as a “valiant fight” against the disease. The announcement was also shared by the National Basketball Association.
Collins revealed in late 2025 that doctors had diagnosed him with an inoperable brain tumour after he experienced difficulty concentrating. He underwent treatment with the drug Avastin and travelled to Singapore for targeted chemotherapy in an effort to slow the cancer’s spread.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, saying his influence extended “far beyond basketball” and helped make the sports world more inclusive and welcoming.
Born in California, Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA for six different teams, including the Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Nets and Atlanta Hawks. He was part of the Nets squads that reached back-to-back Eastern Conference finals in 2002 and 2003.
In 2013, Collins publicly came out as gay in a groundbreaking essay published in Sports Illustrated, becoming the first openly gay active player in any of the four major US men’s professional sports leagues. At the time, same-sex marriage had not yet been legalized nationwide in the United States.
Following his announcement, Collins returned to the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets before retiring in 2014. He was later named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.
Tributes poured in from across the basketball community, with former teammates, coaches and organizations remembering him not only for breaking barriers but also for his kindness, intelligence and leadership off the court.
Glioblastoma, often referred to as GBM, is the most common malignant brain tumour in adults. While treatment can slow its progression, there is currently no known cure.
