Jason Collins, NBA's 1st openly gay player, dies of brain tumor at 47
Former NBA player Jason Collins, widely hailed as the first openly gay athlete in any of the four major U.S. sports, has died of brain cancer.
NBA player Jason Collins speaks at a press conference before the Brooklyn Nets play the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center in New York City on Nov. 19, 2014. Collins, who became the first openly gay athlete in North America's four major team sports, has died of brain cancer, his family announced Tuesday.
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI May 12 (UPI) -- Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player who later carved out a high-profile role as a goodwill ambassador for the game of basketball, has died of brain cancer, the NBA announced Tuesday. He was 47. Collins' family revealed in September that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and in December, the former 13-year veteran confirmed he had Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.
His death was announced by family members in a statement that read, "We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma. "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. " NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins' impact and influence "extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations. " As a player and an NBA Cares Ambassador, he "exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism" and will be remembered "not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.