Trailblazing basketball star Jason Collins, who made history as the league's inaugural openly gay athlete, passes away at 47

Jason Collins, a former NBA player, has passed away at the age of 47 after a courageous battle with brain cancer, according to an announcement made by his family.

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Collins' family described his fight against glioblastoma, a highly aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer, as "valiant" before his eventual passing.

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The news of his death was shared through the National Basketball Association and reported by the BBC on Wednesday.

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In 2025, Collins revealed that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer after experiencing difficulties with concentration, and doctors later confirmed the presence of a rapidly spreading brain tumour.

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At the time of his diagnosis, Collins was undergoing treatment, including targeted chemotherapy, medication such as Avastin, and specialist treatment abroad, in an effort to slow the progression of the illness.

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, stating that his influence extended far beyond the basketball court, making the NBA, WNBA, and the broader sports community more inclusive and welcoming.

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According to Silver, Collins will be remembered not only for breaking barriers but also for his exceptional kindness and humanity, leaving a lasting impact on the sports world.

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In 2013, Collins made history by becoming the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to publicly come out as gay, a landmark moment for LGBTQ visibility in sport.

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His announcement, published in Sports Illustrated, was widely regarded as a pivotal moment, and despite initial uncertainty about his NBA career, Collins later returned to the league with the Brooklyn Nets.

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Throughout his 13-season NBA career, Collins played for six teams, including the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics, earning respect as a steady presence in the locker room and a defensive specialist at center.

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The Brooklyn Nets expressed their sadness at Collins' passing, praising his contributions both on and off the court, and acknowledging the significant impact he had on the sport.

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The team remembered Collins as a "genuinely kind, thoughtful person" whose courage and authenticity helped to move the game forward, leaving a lasting legacy.

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After retiring from basketball in 2014, Collins was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people, and he continued to advocate for inclusion in sport, including a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention alongside his twin brother Jarron.

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Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery described Collins as one of the university's great players, and his passing marked a "sad day" for the basketball community.

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Collins is being remembered as a trailblazing athlete whose openness and courage helped reshape attitudes toward LGBTQ players in professional sports, leaving behind a lasting legacy.