NBA glioblastoma Cancer Awareness NBA history Sports Illustrated Jason Collins gay athlete brain cancer Brooklyn Nets LGBTQ+ sports

Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, has died of brain cancer, his family announced on Tuesday. He was 47.

Last year, Collins was diagnosed with a brain tumor and later revealed that it was Stage 4 glioblastoma, a particularly deadly form.

As Collins told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne in an article published this past December, he traveled to Singapore for experimental treatment to extend his life. He said,

"The goal is to keep fighting the progress of the tumors long enough for a personalized immunotherapy to be made for me, and to keep me healthy enough to receive that immunotherapy once it's ready."

The treatment allowed him to return to the United States and make some public appearances, but the cancer returned and worsened. He died at his home in Los Angeles.

Jason Collins' NBA Career and Historic Coming Out

Collins played for 13 seasons in the NBA, a successful career by any standards, but became better known for his advocacy and historic moment in 2013.

In 2013, after the end of the regular season, he came out in an article published by Sports Illustrated, becoming the first openly gay active athlete in one of the four major American men's pro sports leagues.

He was unsigned during the 2013–14 season until the Brooklyn Nets offered him a 10-day contract. Collins entered his first game since his announcement on February 23, 2014. He finished out the season with the Nets before retiring in November of that year.

Source: Defector
DeFi Exploits Surge: $6M Lost in Weekly Hacks as Smaller Projects Remain Vulnerable
← Previous

DeFi Exploits Surge: $6M Lost in Weekly Hacks as Smaller Projects Rema...

 NASA Reveals Artemis III Mission Details, Targets 2027 Moon Landing
Next →

NASA Reveals Artemis III Mission Details, Targets 2027 Moon Landing