Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jason Collins has died at the age of 47 following what his family described as a “valiant fight” with glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer.

The announcement was confirmed through the NBA and reported by the BBC on May 13, sending waves of sadness through the global basketball community.

Collins had revealed in 2025 that he was diagnosed after experiencing difficulties with concentration. Medical examinations later confirmed a fast-growing tumour, which he once described as “a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain.”

He reportedly underwent intensive treatment, including targeted chemotherapy, prescription medication such as Avastin, and specialist care abroad in an attempt to slow the progression of the disease.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, highlighting his impact beyond basketball and his role in shaping a more inclusive sporting environment.

“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.

Collins made global history in 2013 when he became the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to publicly come out as gay. His announcement in Sports Illustrated was widely regarded as a groundbreaking moment for LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports.

He later returned to the league, joining the Brooklyn Nets, the franchise where his professional career had begun.

Over a 13-year NBA career, Collins also featured for the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics, earning respect across the league as a disciplined defensive center and valued teammate.

The Brooklyn Nets expressed deep sorrow over his passing, describing him as more than just a player.

“Those who were around Jason every day knew him not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person. His courage and authenticity helped move the game and the world forward,” the team said.

After retiring in 2014, Collins was named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and continued to be a prominent voice in public life, including an appearance at the Democratic National Convention alongside his twin brother, Jarron Collins.

Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery described his death as a “sad day” for basketball, as tributes continue to pour in from across the sporting world in honour of a player remembered for both his resilience on and off the court.