Reports that Jason Collins has died at age 47 are being widely carried by major news organizations, including Reuters and Associated Press. According to those reports, he died after battling stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Collins made history in 2013 when he became the first openly gay active player in the National Basketball Association and in any major North American men’s professional team sport. He played 13 NBA seasons for teams including the Brooklyn Nets (then New Jersey Nets), Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and others.
Tributes have come from across basketball and the broader sports world. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins helped make sports “more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
Jason Collins left a lasting legacy both in basketball and in the broader fight for inclusion in professional sports.
In 2013, Collins became the first openly gay active player in a major American men’s professional team sport when he came out publicly in a groundbreaking essay for Sports Illustrated. His announcement was a watershed moment in sports history, especially at a time when same-sex marriage was still not legal nationwide in the United States.
Collins played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association after starring at Stanford University. During his career, he played for teams including the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, and others. He was known as a strong defensive center and respected locker-room leader.
His death at 47 after battling Glioblastoma has prompted tributes throughout the sports world. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins helped make basketball and sports culture “more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. It develops from astrocytes — cells that support nerve tissue in the brain — and can rapidly spread into nearby brain tissue. Symptoms often include headaches, seizures, memory or speech problems, personality changes, vision issues, and difficulty with balance or concentration.
Collins spoke publicly about his diagnosis in 2025, describing the tumor as “a monster with tentacles” spreading beneath his brain. Despite the prognosis, he continued treatment and used his platform to encourage authenticity and openness, comparing the experience to the courage it took to come out publicly years earlier.
His story remains significant not only because he broke a barrier in sports, but because he showed how visibility and honesty can influence culture far beyond the court.