Jason Collins, the first openly gay active player in NBA history, has passed away at the age of 47 after a battle with brain cancer, Yahoo Sports reported on May 13 (Korean time). According to local reports, Collins was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, and had been undergoing treatment. Last winter, he traveled to Singapore for experimental therapy not yet approved in the United States.
ESPN noted that the treatment showed some effect, allowing Collins to return home and attend the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, as well as watch a game at his alma mater, Stanford University. However, the cancer recently returned, and he died at home surrounded by family. Collins’ family released a statement through the NBA, expressing deep gratitude for the love and prayers received over the past eight months, as well as the excellent care from doctors and nurses. They said, “Our family will miss him dearly.”
Collins debuted in the 2001-02 season and played 13 years in the NBA, averaging 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He retired in 2014 and publicly came out as gay in a 2013 Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first active player in a major North American professional sports league to do so. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted that Collins’ impact extended far beyond basketball, helping make the NBA, WNBA, and the entire sports world more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.
