Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, has died at the age of 47 following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
His family confirmed the news in a statement released Tuesday.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” the statement read.
The family described Collins as an inspiration whose influence extended far beyond basketball, thanking supporters for their prayers and the medical team that cared for him during the past several months.
Collins was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft and went on to spend 13 seasons in the league playing for six different teams.
In 2013, while playing for the Boston Celtics, Collins publicly came out as gay in an open letter published in Sports Illustrated, becoming the first openly gay active athlete in a major American professional team sport.
“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport,” Collins wrote at the time. “But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.”
After being released by the Celtics, Collins later signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014 and appeared in 22 games before retiring from professional basketball.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, saying his impact went far beyond the court.
“Jason 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,” Silver said in a statement.
Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson, and members of his family.
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