Jason Collins Dies: NBA’s First Openly Gay, Active NBA Player Was 47

Jason Collins , the first openly gay basketball player in NBA history, died Tuesday after a months-long battle with brain cancer. He was 47. Collins died from glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, and had been battling the disease for the last eight months, his family stated, according to KXAN.

“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,” the family said in a statement obtained by KXAN. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also announced Collins’ death and spoke highly of him and his achievements, saying that his “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. He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares ambassador,” he said in a statement obtained by ESPN.

He continued, “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others. ” In December, Collins revealed that he had stage 4 glioblastoma. Months earlier, in September, he disclosed that he was undergoing treatment after experiencing symptoms in August, Blavity reported.