The NBA community is mourning the loss of Jason Collins, the retired center who made history as the league's first openly gay active player. Collins passed away at the age of 47 after an eight-month battle with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, his family announced on Tuesday.
A Trailblazer for Inclusion
Collins came out as gay in 2013 while still playing in the NBA, a groundbreaking moment for professional sports. In a statement released through the NBA, his family said: "Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly."
His Battle with Cancer
Collins had been receiving treatment for a brain tumor. In an essay published by ESPN last year, he revealed that the average prognosis for glioblastoma with radiation and chemotherapy is about 11 to 14 months. He traveled to Singapore for experimental treatments not yet available in the United States. "As an athlete you learn not to panic in moments like this. These are the cards I've been dealt," he wrote. "If that's all the time I have left, I'd rather spend it trying a course of treatment that might one day be a new standard of care for everyone."
He drew parallels between sharing his cancer battle and coming out as gay. "Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self … this is me. This is what I'm dealing with," Collins wrote.
Historic Coming Out
Collins first publicly addressed his sexuality in a 2013 essay for Sports Illustrated. "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," it began. At that time, no active players in the other major American sporting leagues were openly gay. He played 13 seasons in the NBA for teams including the Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets, retiring in 2014.
Recent Recognition
Just last week, Collins was awarded the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. Too ill to attend, his twin brother and former NBA player Jarron Collins accepted on his behalf. "I told my brother this before I came here: he's the bravest, strongest man I've ever known," Jarron Collins said.
Collins leaves behind a legacy of courage and advocacy that extended far beyond the basketball court.
