Jason Collins

Jason Collins, the barrier-breaking NBA center who became the first openly gay active player in any of America's four major professional sports leagues, died Tuesday at the age of 47. His family confirmed that Collins had been battling glioblastoma — one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of brain cancer — for several months before his passing. The news sent shockwaves through the basketball world and the LGBTQ+ community, both of which had claimed Collins as one of their own.

A Career That Quietly Built Toward a Historic Moment

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA, suiting up for six different franchises including the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets. Standing 7 feet tall and known for his defensive tenacity and locker-room presence, he was a reliable big man rather than a star — the kind of player coaches trusted to guard elite centers and set hard screens.

But on April 29, 2013, Collins did something no active player in the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL had ever done before. He came out as gay in a first-person essay published in Sports Illustrated. "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center," the piece opened. "I'm black. And I'm gay." Three sentences that changed American sports history.

President Barack Obama called Collins personally to offer his support. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tweeted her congratulations. The reaction was not universally positive — some teammates and commentators pushed back — but the weight of the moment was undeniable.

Tributes Pour In From Basketball and Beyond

Within hours of Tuesday's announcement, tributes flooded social media and newsrooms across the country. The NBA released a statement calling Collins "a trailblazer whose courage transcended sport." Former teammates, coaches, and rivals remembered not just the historic coming out, but the man himself — his humor, his intelligence, and his willingness to mentor younger players.

LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations including GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign issued statements honoring Collins's legacy. His decision to come out publicly in 2013, they noted, came at a moment when marriage equality had not yet been recognized nationwide and public acceptance of gay athletes in men's professional sports was far from guaranteed.

Collins had shared late last year that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, prompting an outpouring of support. The basketball and LGBTQ+ communities rallied around him during treatment, but the disease — which carries a median survival of roughly 14 to 16 months even with aggressive intervention — ultimately proved fatal.

What Is Glioblastoma, and Why Is It So Difficult to Treat?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a grade 4 brain tumor arising from glial cells. It is the most common and most aggressive primary brain cancer in adults, accounting for roughly 14.3% of all brain tumors diagnosed in the United States. The American Brain Tumor Association estimates that approximately 14,000 Americans receive a GBM diagnosis each year.

Why Treatment Remains So Challenging

GBM tumors grow rapidly, send microscopic tendrils into surrounding brain tissue, and frequently recur even after surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The current standard of care — surgical resection followed by temozolomide chemotherapy and radiation — has changed little since 2005. Despite significant research investment, median survival remains stubbornly low.

Awareness is a critical piece of the puzzle. Organizations like the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) and the Musella Foundation fund research and provide patient support resources. If you want to honor Collins's memory with a donation, both organizations are well-regarded and use a high percentage of funds for direct research grants.

The Lasting Impact on LGBTQ+ Representation in Pro Sports

Collins's 2013 announcement opened a door that, while still not wide open, has never fully closed. Since then, a number of professional athletes across American sports have come out, including NFL defensive end Michael Sam later that same year, and more recently, players across the WNBA, MLS, and minor league affiliates of major sports.

A Benchmark for Courage in Men's Professional Sports

What made Collins's moment particularly significant was the setting: active status in one of the world's most-watched leagues, at a time when no cultural script existed for how an organization, teammates, or fans should respond. He did not wait until retirement. He did not issue a quiet statement. He wrote a 1,500-word essay that walked readers through his life.

Sports psychologists and LGBTQ+ scholars have since pointed to Collins's disclosure as a turning point that normalized conversations about sexual identity in locker rooms — spaces that, in American professional sports, had historically been resistant to those discussions.

Remembering Jason Collins the Person, Not Just the Symbol

It would be easy, and reductive, to let the historic headline swallow the man. Collins grew up in Northridge, California, and attended Stanford University, where he and his twin brother Jarron both played basketball. He was known among NBA insiders as one of the sharpest minds in the league — a student of the game who could break down film and articulate defensive schemes with the precision of a coach.

Colleagues remembered his warmth and dry wit. Former teammates described locker-room conversations with Collins that had nothing to do with basketball: politics, literature, social justice. He was, by nearly every account, exactly the kind of person you'd want in your corner — on the court or off it.

After his playing career ended, Collins remained engaged with LGBTQ+ youth outreach, speaking at schools and community events about the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance. He understood that his visibility carried weight, and he chose to use it.

How to Honor His Legacy Right Now

For fans, athletes, and allies processing this loss, there are concrete ways to carry Collins's legacy forward:

• Donate to brain tumor research: The National Brain Tumor Society (braintumor.org) accepts direct donations and has active GBM-specific research programs.
• Support LGBTQ+ sports initiatives: Organizations like You Can Play (youcanplayproject.org) work directly with professional and collegiate teams to build inclusive environments.
• Read the original Sports Illustrated essay: It remains freely available online and holds up as a piece of personal writing — not just as a cultural artifact.
• Talk about it: Collins's legacy is partly about normalizing these conversations. Share what his story meant to you.
• Stream his story: Multiple documentaries and ESPN 30 for 30 segments have covered Collins's announcement and its aftermath. They remain valuable context for younger audiences who may not remember 2013.

A Legacy That Will Outlast the Headlines

Jason Collins did not cure glioblastoma. He did not single-handedly transform professional sports culture. But he stood up — publicly, permanently, on record — at a moment when almost no one else in his position had. That act of courage shaped how millions of Americans, and particularly young LGBTQ+ athletes, understood what was possible.

He was 47 years old. The basketball and LGBTQ+ communities have lost a pioneer, and by all accounts, a genuinely good human being. The tributes pouring in from every corner of sports and civil rights advocacy reflect not just what he represented, but who he was.