Jason Collins Dies at 47
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Why this is here: Jason Collins set a state high school rebounding record with 1,500 rebounds, a record that stood for nearly a decade before being broken in 2010.
Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, died May 12 in Los Angeles following a battle with brain cancer. The 7-foot center revealed his sexual orientation in a 2013 Sports Illustrated cover story while playing for the NBA. He then played briefly with the Brooklyn Nets before retiring in 2014.
Collins played 13 seasons for eight different teams, including the New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game during his career. His twin brother, Jarron Collins, also played professional basketball.
He was diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma in December 2025, a rare cancer with a median survival rate of 14.6 months for adults. Despite the diagnosis, Collins continued advocacy work and received an award for his push for social change last week, accepted by his brother. While he expressed gratitude for his life after coming out, the disease ultimately proved fatal, leaving a void in both the sports and LGBTQ+ communities.
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