Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, died at 47 after an eight-month battle with aggressive brain cancer, his family announced.

Jason Collins, widely credited as the NBA’s first openly gay player and later a visible advocate for inclusion, has died at 47 following an eight-month battle with an aggressive brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday.

Collins’ death follows a diagnosis of Stage 4 glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer known for an extremely low survival rate.. In a statement released through the NBA. his family said Jason “changed lives in unexpected ways. ” adding that they were grateful for the medical care he received from doctors and nurses during the past eight months.

Collins spent 13 years in the NBA, playing for six franchises. His professional career included time with the New Jersey Nets, and later stints with Atlanta, Boston, Memphis, Minnesota, and Washington.

He revealed that he was gay in 2013, with the announcement arriving late in his playing career. That disclosure, made after he chose to go public while he was a free agent, is widely viewed as a turning point not just for him personally, but for the league’s visibility around LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The impact of Collins’ openness was reflected in recognition beyond the court.. Just last week, he received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit.. Because he was too ill to attend. his twin brother. former NBA player Jarron Collins. accepted the award 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 when accepting the honor. The moment highlighted how Collins’ influence extended into wider sports circles, where inclusion efforts increasingly intersect with public recognition.

After his announcement in 2013, Collins said he wanted to keep playing. He described the decision in a first-person account published in April 2013, saying that he was raising his hand because no one else had yet done what he believed needed to happen.

Collins also connected his decision to broader public events. In his account, he wrote that he realized he needed to go public around the time Joe Kennedy III appeared in Boston’s gay pride parade in 2012, while Collins said he couldn’t do the same.

Support for Collins’ choice came quickly from prominent figures in the sports world.. Star players such as Kobe Bryant spoke out in his defense after he went public. and there was also acknowledgment from national political figures. including support from the White House and then-former President Bill Clinton.. Collins’ university life at Stanford was referenced in the reporting. including the fact that he and Joe Kennedy III were roommates. and the detail that Chelsea Clinton went to Stanford as well.

While Collins pursued visibility, he also kept certain aspects of his life private until he felt ready.. Until he made his sexuality public. he said he kept his feelings about gay rights “close to the vest. ” and he used jersey numbers as subtle nods to that identity during parts of his final NBA stints.

Collins wore jersey No.. 98 during his last three playing periods with Boston, Washington, and Brooklyn.. The number was described as a reference to the year Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, was killed.. He also wore No.. 46 in one game for the Nets, which he said was the only jersey number available when he signed.

On the court, Collins carved out a role as a reliable contributor. Across his career, he averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds. During the 2004-05 season, his best year with the Nets, he averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.

His tenure with the Nets included helping the franchise reach two NBA Finals. After beginning much of his career with New Jersey, he later became part of multiple teams over the course of 13 seasons, but the Nets years remain a central part of how many fans remember him.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’ influence reached well beyond basketball.. In remarks released through the league. Silver described Collins as an example of leadership and professionalism during his NBA career and his work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. adding that he would be remembered not only for breaking barriers but also for the kindness and humanity that characterized his life.

Silver also sent condolences to Collins’ husband, Brunson, and to his family, friends, and colleagues. The statement came as tributes continued to spread across the sports world following news of his death.

Among those mourning was Dallas coach Jason Kidd, a former teammate and coach of Collins. Kidd wrote on X that Collins was a pioneer and praised his courage and kindness, saying that Collins’ presence in Brooklyn at the start of Kidd’s coaching journey meant a great deal.

Off the court, Collins’ openness became part of a larger civil-rights narrative within American sports. The Human Rights Campaign said Collins “stepped forward” boldly and changed the conversation, calling him a legend for the LGBTQ+ community.

Collins’ agent, Arn Tellem, also offered a personal reflection, saying representing him was among the “great honors and privileges” of his life. Tellem described Collins as not only a courageous figure, but also someone whose courage reshaped lives and extended beyond the game.

In the hours after the announcement, moments of remembrance took place. A moment of silence was held Tuesday before the Minnesota at San Antonio playoff game, honoring both Collins and Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, whose death was also announced Tuesday.

The Spurs praised Collins for bravery and kindness, framing the tribute in terms of the personal character that teammates and league figures said defined him.

Collins’ NBA path began after his college career at Stanford. where he made 61% of his shots—an enduring school record—and earned an honorable mention selection for The Associated Press’ All-America team in 2001.. A few months later, the Houston Rockets drafted Collins with the 18th pick in the NBA draft that year.

Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said the program was grieving a major figure. recalling memories of Collins’ time at Stanford and describing the way his impact could be felt on the court and in daily interactions.. Montgomery also spoke about the difficult comparison of Jason to his identical twin brother. saying that while they thought alike. Collins was unique in his own way.

Montgomery said Collins’ influence at Stanford was immense, including his ability to match up against anyone in the country because of his size, intelligence, strength, and skill—along with what he characterized as Collins’ bright and nice personality.

For many fans and advocates. Collins’ story carried meaning well beyond statistics: it reflected a moment when professional sports began to more visibly embrace LGBTQ+ people. and it left behind a legacy of advocacy and inclusion that the league and wider civil-rights organizations continue to reference.

Jason Collins NBA inclusion LGBTQ+ athlete brain cancer glioblastoma NBA Cares Sports Illustrated